Beautiful, haunting, and gloriously inventive. Some have complained of the plotting or pacing in this book, but my only complaint is that it didn't last longer. Despite the brevity, however, it doesn't feel rushed--Susan Cooper ends it on exactly the right note, a sigh of relief mingled with just a touch of melancholy and a final surprising burst of wonder. One of the first witchcraft blogs I ever found and am still attached to is Sarah Anne Lawless’ blog now called Bane Folk. Sarah is an animist, folk witch, forager, and herbalist. Talk about an essential blog for the green witch! 2. The Witchy Mommy Greenwitch by Susan Cooper is the second in the Dark is Rising series. I disagree with making Over Sea, Under Stone the first in the series. It's really more of a standalone. I'd call it a prequel except it was written before the other four. The events of OSUS relate to this book so it's helpful to read it, but not necessary.

Lastly, remember that every journey is personal and unique. It’s okay to make mistakes, change directions, or take things slow. What’s vital is your intention and the genuine desire to connect with the Earth and her myriad wonders. What are some essential tools or items for a Green Witch’s altar or practice? In the words of Prof. Iain Provan, who said it far better than I ever could in Convenient Myths: The ‘Axial Age’, Dark Green Religion, and the World That Never Was: There are some very interesting newer concepts introduced in this book. We've already met the Wild Magic, in a sense, in the form of Herne the Hunter, but the Greenwitch really personifies it. We also get to see Will growing into his power a lot more. He's still a boy, in some ways, but we get a more outside perspective of him so we see the part of him that is more than that shining through his boyishness. It's really interesting to see him through the eyes of the Drews.

Course Content

There's so much nonsense that I legitimately don't know what to say or where to start, so I'll start as short and simply as I possibly can: This book is shit. A masterpiece of standard Neopagan nonsense; severely disappointing, as this book comes so well recommended. I’ve heard nothing but good things about The Witching Herbs by Harold Roth. Not only does he discuss the magic of each herb, but also goes into detail about their lore and history. A must-have on the green witch bookshelf. 5. The Complete Book of Incense, Oils, and Brews There is more action in this book than in TDIR, but even that was a letdown---the climactic "battle" was interesting but didn't seem to fit very well---like a lot of what happens in these books, showy but not very convincing.)

Imagine you’re standing in a garden, your fingers brushing against the leaves of basil, rosemary, and lavender. To a Green Witch like you, these aren’t just plants; they’re alive with energy, each carrying its own unique vibration. By incorporating these into spells and rituals, you’re drawing directly from Earth’s reservoir of power, ensuring that your magic is grounded and potent. I particularly enjoyed the portrait of Greenwitch as a petulant and very dangerous elemental being subject to its own seething, unpredictable nature. A kind of child, but one that cannot be bullied - only swayed, with kindness. The confrontation between Greenwitch and a rogue agent of the Dark was riveting. Some people really shouldn't sass the Green, let alone try to boss them around. They might find themselves trapped and tormented on a ghost ship until the end of time. Oops, spoiler alert!Imagine the tactile feel of a wooden wand sourced from a tree branch you found on a walk or the sharp edge of an athame, a ritual knife. While not absolutely necessary, these traditional witchcraft tools can be integrated into a Green Witch’s practice, provided they’re chosen with consideration for their source and environmental impact. Healing, harmony, and balance" are not at all "all key to the green witch’s practice and outlook on life". And there are no "Green Witch Ethics" (which, hilariously, they actually reaffirm later saying "there are no ethical or moral rules associated with the green witch path other than those that the practitioner already possesses"- despite giving a pretty clear set of ethics prior on; they need to make up their mind).

And then, of course, there's the eponymous Greenwitch. I'm not sure what I was expecting it to be--given the cover art on my copy, I think I was expecting something like Treebeard. Certainly I couldn't have imagined this wild, changeful, childish hurricane of a being--and not to spoil the effect for new readers, that's all I'll say--but I absolutely adored it, and the Tolkien-esque infusion of sadness Cooper managed to give it. Want to learn more about wildflowers and their energies? Read Wildflower Folklore by Laura C. Martin. Green Witch Blogs 1. Sarah Anne Lawless It’s also, once again, great on human interaction: the pettiness of Barney and Simon toward the intruder, Will, and Jane’s attempts to bridge the two worlds. More out of a sense that that’s the girl’s job, perhaps, than because she has any genuine interest in Will for himself. Jane is the most reluctant of the Six — right now I’m wondering a little if that’s because she’s the only female character. I hope not, but there are so many scenes where she’s timid, more afraid than the boys… But at the same time, she also has a different understanding of the world, and a deeper view on things. She’s the one who can see the Greenwitch for the lonely creature it is, the one who can see Will for the strange being he has become. Which might, again, be rooted in gender, but I don’t think it’s any kind of simple binary. Which is a relief.The book also contains a myriad of meditations; energy sensing techniques; spells and recipes; all of which are suitable for witches of any experience level. It covers methods of initiating yourself as a solitary green witch, to methods of deepening your practice, making it over all the perfect book for anyone looking to get started on the green witch's path. It's also highly readable, with easily understandable language, allowing the reader to fly through. Envision sitting silently beside a towering oak or a blooming rose, seeking to communicate or draw wisdom from its spirit. Beyond their physical properties, Green Witches often connect with the very souls of plants. Through meditation, dream work, or other spiritual practices, you can forge relationships with plant spirits, learning directly from these ancient, wise beings.

Elemental Magic: While many witches work with the classical elements (Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit), Green Witches might have a particular affinity for the Earth element. A Green Witch is a practitioner of the craft who works with the energies and properties of herbs, seeds, extracts and plants in general. Scroll down to find Green Witchcraft spells, lessons, and PDFs for your Green Witch Grimoire! 📜While I’ve given up any pretence of trying to catch up with the readalong of the wonderful Dark is Rising sequence hosted by Annabelle at AnnaBookBel, I am of course continuing to read the books, which I am enjoying very much. This will however, be the last of the books I will be able to review this year. It's also interesting to see the Drews drawn further into the deeper parts of the plot. It's always strange to me to realise how little they know. The characterisation of them is brilliant -- they're such ordinary kids, so resentful of another kid "interfering". I love the location of this book: a fictitious fishing village on the coast of Cornwall. Cooper describes the village so well I can hear the seagulls and smell the fishing boats. I'll be traveling to Cornwall next year and the primary reason for my going (other than to see Cornwall, an area of exceptional natural beauty) is because of this book. My initial interest in England (and the greater UK) can be attributed to my first readings of this series.