Customer Reviews

Natural Magic; Potions and Powers from the Magical Garden

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I thought this was a really good book. It explained a lot of things that I had not understood from previous books that I had read. It tells you how to make certain infusions, candles, among other natural magic spells. It offered really good tables, although they are not complete. He offers an excellent bibliography for you to pursue more info to fill in the gaps that he admits leaving. I got a little lost in the last chapter on alchemy. I felt that he could have explained that a little better (I admit that I don't know very much about it). A very good book on the subject.

Over the years, I've run into Hermetic Magicians, Ceremonial Magicians, Enochian practitioners and etc., all of whom have told me that they wish they had a modern compendium of herbal lore and data to use for their practices. The result had been to resort to "low magic" traditions such as Wicca or Santeria to obtain valid herbal lore and techniques. Truth be known, the answers they often sought were found available in their own backyard.

The idea of "Natural Philosophy" as discussed by the Medieval magicians and philosophers has often been overlooked by modern magicians due to the idea that much superstition was underlying that magical paradigm. Truth be told, much of "magic" had its origins in superstition and it is amazing how later that modern science has confirmed many old superstitions to have some validity. Natural Philosophy is Natural Magic or the understanding of the physical world and how it relates to the universe thru various means such as the law of sympathy.

Greer has done an "ok" job. While his book is not "in-depth" or encyclopedic, still it is a source that the modern magician can reference. Sadly the drawings of the plants themselves are little more than mere illustrations or line drawings which are hardly enough for one to take with them out in the wilds and choose the exact herb, stem or root alone. In Medieval times, a student may take a nature walk with his teacher and be shown first hand the flora and fauna thus the line drawings would then serve only as a reminder of the shape of the plant. Today however, a nature guide or botanist is almost needed for someone to find the plant in the wild. Preferred would be color photos of the herb as it is growing wild in its natural environment. After all, this is the age of Kodak.

The herbs are indexed alphabetically and that is helpful in itself. A cross reference index to the Latin names of the plants would be helpful as well. The Tables of Correspondence are very helpful in that they can help when one is looking for like attributes in different plants. He does give some folklore usually from European sources and none from other traditions such as Latin-American ones. The dire warnings about

Part 3, the Natural Magic Workbook is better in that it does give one a small dose of "how to use" the plants in magical workings. This is illustrated thru sachets, dream pillows, amulets and the like. Greer also gives due credit (a rare thing these days from book authors) to Franz Bardon, author of _Initiation Into Hermetics_, on how to make Fluid Condensers which are magical elixirs involving the use of gold tincture.

Finally the book ends with discussions on gardening whether you live in the country or city and a "brief" discussion on Alchemy. In fact, if he's so inclined, Greer should consider a second book to expand on what he's presented as Natural Philosophy and Alchemy to take the material further.

I also would have liked to read some of his own personal anecdotes mixed in with the book. This is a trait that many Llewellyn authors seem to share. They show up and throw up information all over you without conversationally explaining how they used such material in their own lives and how it turned out. But books that try to be "textbooks" are often lacking in that aspect. Too bad the textbook approach by such authors really isn't much of a textbook, rather a mere overview.

Unfortunately, this book doesn't fill in the gaps for a greater understanding of Natural Philosophy like Greer did for Golden Dawn style ceremonial magic with his previous book, _Circles of Power_.

Greer takes mega reams of information from ancient herbals and alchemical manuals- mostly given in antiquated, verbose, difficult to understand formats, when it can be found at all- and simplifies it for those of us who are not Rhodes scholars. Covers only the very basics, and that lightly; but you can't find a better book for beginners or those looking for a refresher. Bonus: not only is the material accurate, it's also fun to read. Enjoy!

It's a lovely encyclopeadia that contains archain knowledge of herbs, crystals and other materials atc... Excellent for begginers.

This book is just a repeat of all other books on Natural Magic. I found it to be boring. However, if you have never read anything on Natural Magic before then this would be a great book for you.

This is defenitly a companion to Scott Cunninghams encyclodida of magical herbs. John Michael Greer not only describes the power of herbs he also goes into other things like the elements, precious stons, crystals, and animals. Remember this is just an encyclopedia but its a really good one.