Book Review-A Shamanic Herbal: Plant Teachers and Animal Medicines by Matthew Wood
Photo Credits: Stock photo of A Shamanic Herbal, courtesy of publisher
A Shamanic Herbal: Plant Teachers and Animal Medicines by Matthew Wood is a 408 page paperback book published by Healing Arts Press, a division of Inner Traditions Publishing. A Shamanic Herbal lays the groundwork for the herbal and animal medicines within from the get-go, starting with theory, philosophy, cosmological views, and the like, before moving on to the Plant and Animal medicines. The Plant and Animal medicine sections themselves are extensive, detailed and well written, drawing on the author’s expertise in herbalism and shamanism. Various plants are attributed to a number of different animals, and shamanic wisdom from multiple shamanic traditions around the world are added to the material, both on plant and animal medicines. The author’s extensive knowledge of both subjects is apparent as you read A Shamanic Herbal and is a foundational tome for future work in this same subject area.
Personal Thoughts on A Shamanic Herbal
I’ve ventured into various shamanic practices through my years of being a Pagan, but never have I encountered such a wonderful book on this subject. I’ve seen herbals that incorporate shamanism, as well as animal spirit medicine, but not together, nor were any correlations ever listed. Those correspondences I had to research on my own; A Shamanic Herbal changes all that. Sure, not every animal is covered within this tome of shamanic wisdom, but some of the most common ones are, especially for witches, such as Bats, Dogs, Lizards, Snakes and Black Birds. Herbal remedies and herbs to use alongside the animal medicines are given, as stated previously, along with mental, spiritual and physical healing properties. Wood also frequently gives examples of either clients’ experiences, or his own, attesting to the accuracy of his knowledge, which he has shared with us in this wonderful book.
I do, however, have one small thing to nitpick about A Shamanic Herbal. On pages 286-290, Wood discusses Black Bird medicine, including Crows, Ravens and the like. He gives a personal experience of a Witch he interacted with on social media, whose ego was a tad too big, and she ended up psychically and magically attacking him, even convincing her posse of social media followers to do the same. While this is inexcusable behavior, to attack others so needlessly, especially over something as petty as a social media interaction, Wood takes it too far in my opinion. On page 287, he says:
“I also came to understand something about witches. Most of them operate as laws unto themselves, deciding who will live and who will die, as if it is up to them to determine the fate of their fellow creatures. This is an incredibly arrogant position to assume. This lack of awareness shows the vulnerability of witches. They are so imprudent that they will attack people without understanding that they themselves could end up on the losing end of the kerfuffle.”
Now, in context, I can see that the witches he was referring to were exactly as described, but to lump all of us into that, is irresponsible. I’ve been known to straddle the lines, and work with both hands, but I’m also an animist and realize the impacts my magicks could have on the web of life, so I use baneful magick sparingly. Personally, I took offense to this statement, especially coming from someone writing on shamanism, a core tenet of shamanism being the inherent beauty, value and wisdom of all life, and all paths, even if it’s not for you, so long as they’re not harming others or themselves with that path and lifestyle.
Beside this one issue, I found A Shamanic Herbal to be an extremely interesting read, jam packed with information that I’ve been anxiously waiting to learn, and even better, in one place! All of these thoughts taken into consideration, I give A Shamanic Herbal: Plant Teachers and Animal Medicines a 4 out of 5 on my usual rating scale. The comments about witches were a bit of a turn off, but that excluded, this is a wonderful read, and anyone interested in herbalism, animal medicines, and shamanism would benefit from reading it. Animists will find A Shamanic Herbal to reaffirm some UPG you’ve likely gained as well, as it did for me.
Matthew Wood is a practicing herbalist with more than 40 years’ experience. He is an internationally known author and lecturer in his field, and holds a masters degree of science in herbal medicine from the Scottish School of Herbal Medicine. He is the author of several books, including The Book of Herbal Wisdom. He runs an online school of herbalism, the Matthew Wood Institute of Herbalism. He lives in Wisconsin.
About the Author:
Hello there! I’m the Modern Merlin, and I’ve been a Polytheist and Animist Pagan, Witch, Sorcerer, Wizard, Druid, Mystic, Ceremonial Magician, Occultist, Shaman, Seer and Soothsayer for 15 years, worshipping and casting magick with deities and spirits from many cultures, including Ancient Greece, Rome, Norse & Germanic, Celtic, Egyptian, Sumerian, as well as many Faeries, Nymphs, Dryads, Ancestors and other nature and land spirits and spirits of place. I practice Necromancy and Deathwalking, as well as Traditional Witchcraft, Druidry, Hellenism and Ceremonial Magick, incorporating all of them into a cohesive practice, with some shamanic touches. I study and practice Astrology as well as Tarot and other forms of divination such as Runes, Palmistry and Ogham. I give readings and spiritual services on my Facebook Page, The Modern Merlin, as well other free informational posts for everyone to see!
