THE POCKET BOOK OF PLANTS THAT HEAL: The illustrated herbarium of medicinal plants

THE POCKET BOOK OF PLANTS THAT HEAL: The illustrated herbarium of medicinal plants
FRANÇOIS COUPLAN & GÉRARD DEBUIGNE (photos by Pierre and Délia Vignes)
Verbena (non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$12.99 hardcover, available now

Rating: 5* of five

The Publisher Says: Unlock the secrets of nature’s medicine cabinet. Discover 75 common medicinal plants, their fascinating histories, therapeutic properties, and learn techniques to prepare herbal remedies such as infusions, tinctures, oils, and lotions. Recognize plants through exceptional photographic plates and discover a wealth of information. Unleash the power of nature’s pharmacy for healing and self-care with this pocket-sized guide to medicinal plants.

Immerse yourself in a world of wonder as you explore 75 Plants That Heal, which will leave you wanting to unlock the secrets of nature’s medicine cabinet. Discover the common medicinal plants, their fascinating history, and therapeutic properties, while learning techniques to prepare safe herbal remedies such as infusions, tinctures, oils, and lotions.

Quickly recognize plants through exceptional photographic plates.

Dive into each species, with a wealth of information on its dedicated page.

Embrace a range of common plants, understanding their healing potential.

Find practical tips for environmentally responsible plant picking.

Authored by a respected ethnobotanist and a doctor of phytotherapy, this book will nourish your knowledge of natural science, making it your essential companion to herbal medicines and natural beauty products, all in a handy pocket size.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: Handsome photos make this a lovely object to possess, but are very much suited to the purpose of handy identification of the plants you're likely to see while in nature. It's also, not coincidentally, a handy way to learn which of your garden "weeds" is actually a useful plant.

I'm very impressed at the inexpensive price...it makes a beautiful small gift for your gardening buddy, as well as anyone thinking of herbal remedy use.

Look at these gorgeous images! The design is so clear, so plainly and attractively thought out that it would be useful outdoors in full sunlight.

The right price for a tree-book gift that looks more expensive than it is.

WITCH, HEALER, PRIESTESS, OUTCAST: Divine Feminine Archetypes for Modern Life

WITCH, HEALER, PRIESTESS, OUTCAST: Divine Feminine Archetypes for Modern Life
JULIE PETERS
Verbena(non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$19.99 all editions, available now

Rating: 4.5* of five

The Publisher Says: A Journey Through the Divine Feminine Archetypes of Goddesses and Mythic Figures

In Witch, Healer, Priestess, Outcast, explore original retellings of mythic figures and goddesses from around the world, discovering how to embrace both the dark and light aspects of life. Learn how embodying the power of witches, healers, priestesses, and outcasts can help you navigate your deepest emotions, reclaim your place in a fast-paced world, and bring new meaning to your experiences.

Drawing inspiration from the ancient tradition of oral storytelling, uncover forgotten figures whose tales may have been lost to time, yet have much to teach us about what it means to live as a woman fully empowered. Witch, Healer, Priestess, Outcast shines a new light on these lost figures, while offering fresh perspectives on those we know well. Each story is a chance to be inspired, and through guided meditations, you'll learn how to integrate that inspiration into your life.

Embrace the Divine Energy of Healing: Connect with an ancient lineage that honours the feminine power to nurture and heal.

Discover the Magick of Feminine Power: Explore the stories of Hekate and Morgan Le Fay to gain fresh insights into the enduring power of women—and how it has often been misunderstood.

Practical Exercises for Daily Growth: Integrate the power of the goddesses into your life with guided meditations that deepen your connection to each story's message and help you embody their transformative energy.

Step into your own divine power, awaken the wisdom of the goddesses, and begin your transformative journey today.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: No, I don't believe in magic, or gods/powers/spirits as forces in the material world...if they're real, why's there so much awful crap happening (as there always is and always has been)? This is called the Problem of Evil. No one's posited an answer that survives the question.

This does not mean I'm not open to learning wisdom, however it's dressed, from those who came before us. The persistence of stories in the world means the best way to communicate wisdom is via that medium. Stories work best with clear characters, real conflicts, and resolutions to those conflicts...no matter how ambiguous. Read my review of The Swerve, or better still, the book.

This book's all-female archetypes of wisdom are handsomely represented in artwork, well-chosen to demonstrate the author's desired celebrated qualities:

The introductory matter, simple and concise, tells us we're going to go deep into the world of women's experiences, archetypes, and the wisdoms these impart. As the span of (recorded) history is mostly the record of misogyny and repression, that doesn't sound cheery.

It is, and it isn't. Without sugarcoating or avoiding the violence meted out by men, the images are gynocentric and the wisdom positive and constructive. Your young wiccan, budding feminist with a spiritual bent, or simply young woman void of course can use this book for encouragement, for assistance, and for the many pleasures of a beautiful object on its own.

Let's enjoy the art:

the loa get a look-in!

the Irish, too

mediterranean myths, anyone?

nordic ladies, here you go

Conclusions to be drawn...an inviting and trenchant way to absorb the wisdom of the women who keep the world running.