Hi friends, welcome back to The Leslie Life! Today, I am going to be doing something a little different; I am going to be talking about a book I recently purchased.
Earlier this year, I caught up on a lot of reading. I have mentioned on my blog that as I’ve grown older, I’ve become less inclined to open a book (sadly). During quarantine, I began to read more and finished quite a few books. But, back in May, I started working full time and I have again put reading on the back burner.
I want to start by saying this was a purchase I made due to the aesthetic of the cover and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I exclusively read fiction books and it was very clear that this was a book that was more self-help oriented.
After reading half of the book, I wanted to share my thoughts and feelings, so here we go!
A quick review:
From the title, perhaps you might think the “Green Witch” is about Wicca, an organized religion that is mistaken for witchcraft, but it most certainly isn’t’.
Right away, Murphy-Hiscock makes it clear that is a book related to spirituality. More specifically, how one interacts with nature and their environment. This instantly intrigued me and I wanted to learn more.
To sum up the first few chapters, green witchcraft has nothing to do with what we think is “magic”. It’s all about finding balance within yourself and nature to live in harmony. It’s about basking in the mundane and everyday life. As someone who has struggled with anxiety for years, this aspect spoke to me.
It also delves into the beginnings of green witchcraft and what it meant to be a green witch in the past (i.e., an herbalist, midwife, etc.) Most importantly, it speaks about how you can still be in tune with nature even if you live in urban surroundings. As I said above, this is not a religion; it’s a practice and very much a way of thinking.
As Murphy-Hiscock explains it, if you accept the energy of nature, and accept that you are a part of it, then you can use it to find balance within yourself. As the book goes on, it talks about seven energy centers one should focus on. They include harmony, health, love, happiness, peace, abundance, and protection. All of these allow you to be in tune with yourself and in turn, in tune with nature.
The book then speaks about creating a sacred space in your home and in general, how to improve your home. I believe your home should be your sanctuary, and so, I was glad it touched on this subject.
It mentions getting rid of what you don’t use or things that don’t fit in with who you are. As simple as that may seem, I think sometimes we need a reminder or a push to do things like this. In the end, cleaning and changing up a space are acts of self-care.
But of course, it also includes witchy things you can do. So far, I have read about purifying your room with a broom and specific meditations you can do during the beginning of each season.
Although I have not finished reading this book, skimming through the later chapters, I found that there are more specifics on how to become more attune with nature, information about spells, herbs, oils, and more. Also, it has recipes as well as an index with different herbs and what they can be used for.
My final thoughts:
Although I was immediately drawn to this book, I was hesitant to buy it. I think the word “witchcraft” has a negative connotation, especially since I was raised Catholic. However, I am so glad I did.
Besides it being a simple and relaxing read, I do think it provides a vast amount of knowledge. I am not usually one for self-help books, but I love and understand the notion of being in touch with nature to find some stability in your life. As Murphy-Hiscock writes, “we heal the earth, and the earth heals us”.
I have written several times before that I have found an incredible amount of solace in nature since COVID. Nature can be hard to find in a big city like Los Angeles, but is it out there and appreciating it will help you find joy in your life.
Not only that, but it does eventually speak on herbal medicines and teas. Growing up Latino, alternative, and natural medicine was always a thing and I always wanted to learn more on this topic.
I also appreciate that it does not talk about religion. As stated, yes, this is a practice, but it has nothing to do with worshipping God(s). Overall, this is a fun read that is a good beginner book if you are into witchcraft and or nature. I will definitely be buying more of this author’s work once I am finished with this one.
To get “The Green Witch: Your Complete Guide to the Natural Magic of Herbs, Flowers, Essential Oils, and More” click here.
Thanks for reading this review! I hope you all will be doing some reading soon. If you have any book suggestions for me, feel free to email or DM on Instagram. Bye for now!
