Reviews
"In her signature style, Amy Blackthorn offers botanical entries which are thorough and informative, with herbal lore to satisfy and so many rich, inspired recipes for magical intentions -- spells -- all based on aromatherapy. Carrier oils are well-discussed as are ways to use magical EO's every day. There are even recipes using other types of botanicals such as chile pepper and whole clove, the inclusion of which I consider a real bonus." -- Doreen Shababy , author of The Wild & Weedy Apothecary, "Brilliantly written and jam-packed with practical advice and easy-to-follow recipes, Blackthorn's Botanical Magic is the one book that no magical practitioner can do without. I wish I'd had it when I began my practice!" -- Dorothy Morrison , author of Everyday Magic and The Craft, " Blackthorn's Botanical Magic is a fantastic starter guide and takes such care in speaking about the origins and cultural connections of various plants and herbs. If you're looking for a practical guide that also takes time to answer how and why we're drawn to botanical magic, this is it." -- Jaya Saxena , co-author of Basic Witches, "Books on herbs, essential oils, and aromatherapy abound. What makes this one standout, your customers might well ask. The answer: the no-nonsense, no pretense, no mystery approach this author takes to sharing her years of experience in the world of plant-based magic practice. Evidence of humans using plants for ritual and healing predates written language. Blackthorn seeks to take us back to those roots. Just smell, she tells readers, and experience what you smell. Use botanicals to tap into the heartbeat of the earth, she instructs further. No years of practice, no secret handshakes or PhD's. Just get in there and do it. Not that this book is short on information. It's not. It begins with basic techniques, moves on to color magic, then moon magic, followed by the import of the days of the week. 135 essential oil recipes in total follow that. The appendixes cover phototoxicity, pregnancy cautions, quality testing, and extensive resources." -- Anna Jedrziewski , Retailing Insight (September/October 2018), "Knowledge is power when it comes to botanical magic and Amy Blackthorn has filled her book with scientific and magical information along with easy to follow formulas. Blackthorn's Botanical Magic is a great resource for anyone looking to put the potent power of plants behind their magic." -- Adam Sartwell , co-founder of the Temple of Witchcraft and award winning author of Twenty-One Days of Reiki and The Blessing Cord, " Blackthorn's Botanical Magic really reached inside my soul and chimed a ring of truth. Beautifully written, using contemporary magic to heighten and empower your life, I found it a wonderfully informative read, covering all manner of herbal witchery including essential oils and herbal plants to enlighten the reader. A must-have book for all those Green Witches, Kitchen Witches and Hedge Witches out there!" --- Leanna Greenaway , author of Wicca Plain & Simple and co-author of Wiccapedia, "If you haven't heard of Amy Blackthorn, well, you should. Not just because her tea (Blackthorn Hoodoo Blends) is delicious, let alone magical. Amy is an authority on herbs, oils, and brews of all sorts. I've witnessed her identify flowers in the field by name, species and genus, detect the notes in the essential oil I was wearing, and whip up just the right concoction of herbs to go with pork chops. Her formulas are efficacious and her knowledge of all things aromatherapy deep. She brings this expertise, as well a charming, warm, and genuine voice to Blackthorn's Botanical Magic . Beginner or expert, magical or mundane... if you work with plants in any way, shape or form, you need this book in your life." -- Natalie Zaman , award-winning author of Magical Destinations of the Northeast, '"Knowledge is power when it comes to botanical magic and Amy Blackthorn has filled her book with scientific and magical information along with easy to follow formulas. Blackthorn's Botanical Magic is a great resource for anyone looking to put the potent power of plants behind their magic." -- Adam Sartwell , co-founder of the Temple of Witchcraft and award winning author of Twenty-One Days of Reiki and The Blessing Cord, " Blackthorn's Botanical Magic is a valuable resource that fills the need for information about the magical properties of essential oils. A book unlike any other, it guides the reader through the world of essential oils, describing their origins and dispelling the myths that surround them. The compendium of oils is a treasure trove of information, filled with magical correspondences, lore, therapeutic applications and scores of original recipes for using oils, herbs, and other botanical ingredients for making magic. This book belongs in the library of every occultist, healer, and herbalist interested in incorporating essential oils into their practice." -- Nicholas Pearson , author of The Seven Archetypal Stones and Crystal Healing for the Heart, "So much wisdom is packed in Blackthorn's Botanical Magic. The flow of information seamlessly blends the practical, scientific, historical, and magickal without overwhelming the reader, yet offering new ideas for a seasoned green Witch." -- Christopher Penczak , Co-Founder of the Temple of Witchcraft, "An aroma can trigger memories, moods, and emotions. It plays on the most primal part of our brain. The essential oil of an herb is where all the good smell is and is the essence of any plant. In Blackthorn's Botanical Magic , Amy Blackthorn shows us how to utilize essential oils to effect magic. In addition to the magical applications of pure essential oils, synergies (essential oil blends), and base oils, she gives practical information such as safety precautions and shelf life. This book is a must-have for anyone who utilizes essential oils in their magic." -- Deborah J. Martin , Master Herbalist and author of A Green Witch's Cupboard and A Green Witch's Formulary, "What a fresh new voice! Blackthorn's Botanical Magic has wisdom for the novice, the experienced herbalist. and everyone in between. Amy Blackthorn's style is accessible and the information so valuable in these anxiety-provoking times. Get this book and practice what you learn here." -- H. Byron Ballard , author of Earth Works: Ceremonies in Tower Time and Embracing Willendorf: A Witch's Way of Loving Your Body to Health and Fitness, "To be a witch is to work with the powers of nature, and the green power of the plant kingdom is one of the greatest of all. Blackthorn's Botanical Magic is a resource for anyone who works with plant materials, whether they have just planted the first seed in their garden of knowledge or are surrounding by an encompassing grove of long experience. This book is more than a dry tome filled with facts and correspondences, it is rich with the sap and the fragrance of the author's love of this lore. The author's hand tends the reader as gracefully as they would their garden, and that is a gift." -- Ivo Dominguez, Jr. , author of Keys to Perception, "I absolutely love this book! Amy Blackthorn's vast experience with herbs and oils is evident on every page, and her friendly, wise, and witty voice makes it a pleasure to read. I particularly liked the chapter on using herbs in cleansing smoke, as well as the attention given to base oils and their various magical uses. The entries for each herb are rich with lore, recipes, and magical uses. This unique reference is a must-have for anyone who wants to get serious about using essential oils in their magic!" -- Lisa Chamberlain , author of Wicca Herbal Magic , WiccaLiving.com
