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The Herbal Lore of Wise Women and Wortcunners: The Healing Power of Medicinal Plants — Occult Philosophy

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The Herbal Lore of Wise Women and Wortcunners: The Healing Power of Medicinal Plants

Name: The Herbal Lore of Wise Women and Wortcunners: The Healing Power of Medicinal Plants
Price: 27.95 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781583943588

✍️ Wolf D Storl, Rosemary Gladstar

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

$27.95 ~~$35.00~~ Save $7.05 (20%)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

This volume delves into the rich, often hidden, history of herbal medicine, exploring the profound connections between plants and ancient healing arts. It traces the lineage of "wise women" and "wortcunners" who understood plants not just botanically, but as vessels of spiritual and occult power. From ancient civilizations to medieval cloister gardens, and even contemporary traditional systems, the book unveils how these healers balanced the mystical with practical applications. Readers will find guidance on cultivating, preparing, and utilizing herbs, alongside an extensive catalog of plants for diverse purposes, from wellness to esoteric exploration.

Storl, Wolf D; , Gladstar, Rosemary

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Occult Philosophy

Praise for this book

“I own at least a couple of hundred books on all aspects of herbs and herbalism, but this one is my all-time favorite. Not so much a book about herbs, but a literary walk down the secret garden path to the plant devas themselves. I have learned more about the art and craft of traditional herbalism from these pages than from any other source, and I am delighted that this book is now, finally, becoming available to the…”

— Kat Morgenstern, founder of ethnobotany and ecotravel website SacredEarth.com

“[The book] discusses old European, Oriental, and Native American herbal medicine with all of their mysticism and in the same breath speaks about modern concepts of health. The reader is taken into a historic world that accepted and used herbal energetics in healing. The text delves into principles of shamanism, homeopathy, planetary influences, and anthroposophic medicine. ...”

— Kathi Keville, American Herb Association

“The Herbal Lore of Wise Women and Wortcunners offers a survey of the healing art of ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans and contrasts these early practices with herbal medicine today from Chinese, Indian and Native American medicine. Author Wolf D. Storl explains how to collect plants, distill, and administer medicines from them and includes old-world 'women's plants' and their other uses as well. ... A fine acquisition for any interested in herbalism and botany.”

— Midwest Book Review

🏛 North Atlantic Books 📅 2012 📖 392 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781583943588

Fun Fact

This profound work masterfully bridges the historical arc of herbalism with its inherent spiritual and practical dimensions. Storl illuminates the forgotten wisdom of ancient plant practitioners, offering both a scholarly journey and a practical handbook for engaging with the green world. While those seeking a strictly scientific botanical text might find its mystical leanings too prominent, it stands as an essential, captivating resource for anyone drawn to the esoteric heart of plant medicine.

📝 Description: The Herbal Lore of Wise Women and Wortcunners: The Healing Power of Medicinal Plants

This "deep excursion into the heart of herbalism" pulls back the curtain on centuries of herbal medicine and offers an inventory of useful plants for the modern herb gardener or homesteader (Rosemary Gladstar) Traditional herbalists or wise women were not only good botanists or pharmacologists; they were also shamanic practitioners and keepers of occult knowledge about the powerful properties of plants. Traveling back to the healing arts of the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, The Herbal Lore of Wise Women and Wortcunners takes readers deep into this world, through the leechcraft of heathen society and witches' herb bundles to the cloister gardens of the Middle Ages. It also examines herbal medicine today in the traditional Chinese apothecary, the Indian ayurvedic system, homeopathy, and Native American medicine. Balancing the mystical with the practical, author Wolf Storl explains how to become an herbalist, from collecting material to distilling and administering medicines. He includes authoritative advice on herb gardening, as well as a holistic inventory of plants used for purposes both benign and malign, from herbs for cooking, healing, beauty, and body care to psychedelic plants, witches' salves for opening alternative realities, and poisonous herbs that can induce madness or cause death. Storl also describes traditional "women's plants" and their uses: dyeing cloth, spinning and weaving, or whipping up love potions. The Herbal Lore of Wise Women and Wortcunners is written for professional and amateur herbalists as well as gardeners, urban homesteaders, and plantspeople interested in these rich ancient traditions.

📑 What's inside

Illustrations
Key to Planetary and Zodiacal Symbols
Foreword / Rosemary Gladstar
Introduction
Preface to the New Edition
Chapter 1. The Story of Herb Lore
Wortcunning
The Roots of Herbalism
Holy Men from the East
Mesopotamia
The Egyptian Tradition
Greek and Roman Medicine
The Arabs
Monasteries of the Middle Ages
The Heathen Tradition
Some Modern Herbalists
Celtic Roots
The Renaissance
Post-Renaissance Period
Trouble with Modern Pharmaceuticals
The Hazard of Herbs
Chapter 2. Medical Models
Chinese Medicine
Indian Ayurveda
Buddhist Medicine
Primitive Medicine and Shamanism
The Third Eye
American Indian Herbalism
African Medicine
Homeopathy
Reflexology
Marijuana Therapy
Conclusion
Chapter 3. Philosophy of Western Herbalism
Planets and Plants
Some Other Planetary Relations
The Elements in Relation to the Planets
Relation of the Planets to the Zodiac
Planetary Rules of Herbal Medicine
The Right Times to Gather and Prepare Herbs
Chapter 4. The Nature of Plants and Plant Medicines
Human Illness and Corresponding Plants
Anthroposophic Medicine
Chapter 5. How to Become an Herbalist
Collecting Skills
How to Administer Herbal Medicine
Alchemical Distillations
The Cure
Chapter 6. From Staples to Poisons
The Active Ingredients
Glucosides
Ethereal Oils
Alkaloids
Tannins
Bitters
Mucilaginous Substances
Chapter 7. Vegetables as Medicines and Wild Foods
Spinach
Garlic
Onion

Showing the first 60 entries.

💎 Expert review

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💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

This volume successfully unites the practical with the mystical, offering an extensive catalog and guidance on plant preparation. However, it may not suit readers seeking strictly scientific, botanical classifications devoid of spiritual context. Those looking for dry, academic history without the esoteric narrative might find the focus on occult power distracting. It is best appreciated by those already comfortable with or curious about the magical aspects of herbalism. The book shines in its ability to weave historical lineage with actionable advice, making it a valuable resource for serious students of folk magic and traditional healing who respect the spiritual dimension of nature.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers fascinated by the intersection of botany and spirituality will find this book indispensable. It offers a unique window into the lives of wise women and wortcunners, revealing how they balanced mystical insights with practical healing. If you seek to understand the hidden history of medicinal plants and wish to cultivate your own connection to the earth’s occult power, this guide provides both inspiration and instruction. It is perfect for those ready to move beyond simple gardening into the realm of esoteric exploration, offering a rich tapestry of knowledge that honors ancient traditions while remaining accessible to modern practitioners seeking deeper meaning in their herbal work.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you're drawn to the ancient, often hidden, wisdom of plants and seek to understand their spiritual as well as their medicinal power, this book is for you. Ideal for those eager to connect with historical healing traditions and cultivate their own practical plant knowledge.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

This volume successfully unites the practical with the mystical, offering an extensive catalog and guidance on plant preparation. However, it may not suit readers seeking strictly scientific, botanical classifications devoid of spiritual context. Those looking for dry, academic history without the esoteric narrative might find the focus on occult power distracting. It is best appreciated by those already comfortable with or curious about the magical aspects of herbalism. The book shines in its ability to weave historical lineage with actionable advice, making it a valuable resource for serious students of folk magic and traditional healing who respect the spiritual dimension of nature.

❓ Frequently asked questions

It masterfully blends both. While it journeys through millennia of herbal history, it also provides concrete instructions on cultivating, preparing, and applying medicinal plants, making it a guide for both scholars and practitioners.

The author presents a comprehensive inventory that includes plants used for various purposes, both benign and those with potent, sometimes dangerous, effects (e.g., psychedelics). It’s an informative overview, not an uncritical endorsement of all uses.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Esoteric Plant Lore

Explores the deeper, often magical or spiritual, understanding of plants held by traditional healers. It highlights how these "wise women" perceived herbs as more than just chemical compounds, but as living entities imbued with specific energies and occult properties, influencing healing and other mystical practices.

Historical Herbal Traditions

This book meticulously traces the evolution of herbal healing across millennia and cultures. It journeys from the sophisticated practices of ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, through the often-misunderstood "leechcraft" of pre-Christian societies, the botanical knowledge of medieval monastic orders, and into contemporary global systems like Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Practical Plant Craft

Beyond historical and mystical insights, the text offers concrete guidance for aspiring herbalists. It covers essential steps from ethically sourcing plant materials to various preparation methods like distillation and administration. Readers gain practical advice for cultivating their own herb gardens and understanding the diverse applications of plants, from medicinal to cosmetic and even mind-altering.

📜 Historical context

This volume stands firmly within the tradition of ethnobotanical studies, yet distinguishes itself by emphasizing the spiritual and "occult" dimensions of plant use, often overlooked by purely scientific approaches. It reclaims the holistic perspective of ancient healers, bridging historical practices with contemporary interest in natural remedies and esoteric wisdom, making it a pivotal text in spiritual herbalism.

📚 Glossary

Wortcunner
Leechcraft
Shamanic Practice

📔 Questions to reflect on

Reflect on a plant you encounter daily. What might its "occult" or unseen properties be, beyond its common uses?
How might understanding the historical practices of "wise women" influence your own approach to health and nature today?
Consider the ethical implications of harvesting wild plants for medicinal purposes. What responsibilities do you feel towards the plant and the environment?