Herbana Witch Review
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By: Cecilia Lattari
Art: Alice Guidi
Publisher: Weiser Books
Book Size: 7.25 x 5 x 1 in (approx.)
Book pages: 208
Release Date: September, 2023
Price: $18.95 usd
Purchased or gifted?: Review copy gifted from Red Wheel/Weiser
Absolute favorite page: Runes With River Stones (pg 113)
Notable Details: Thick cover, Herbana Witch Messages, Secret Recipes, Space in back for notes, beautiful illustrations.
Herbana Witch with the Goddess Within Oracle
First impressions: Like most of the books and decks I have, I was immediately attracted to the style. I love the illustrations. It’s so cottage core but still on the dark side and sophisticated. I swear there needs to be a magical, mystical version of Anthropologie/Terrain (I feel like the universe is waiting for me to make this because this is a reoccurring theme for me, lol) and if there were, this book would absolutely be sold there.
The book is broken down by the four seasons and starts with winter. A lot of seasonal material begins with Spring which I totally understand and I also tend to view the spring equinox as the start of the year. But, when you think about the Wheel of the Year, Samhain is the witch’s new year which means, winter is the beginning of the year, not spring. Not to mention, new year on the traditional calendar begins just after the beginning of winter. This past year, I have slowly started accepting winter as the beginning of the year or of a new cycle. Seeing the book begin with that season felt aligned with what I have already been picking up on. I feel like the world had been in a season of fall for decades and is now moving into the season of winter which of course means a new beginning. A challenging one but one meant to help us rest, reset and ultimately grow.
“The Herbana Witch is the goddess of small things. She can appreciate their sacredness, respect them and knows how to find them.” This line was taken from the introduction and I think it's a great way to sum up the book, especially “the goddess of small things.” I love that phrase more than anything else I’ve read in this book. We tend to view life through the lens of big things and big moments but it’s the little everyday things that move life forward. You’ll spend more time in your favorite chair, laughing with your partner, crying to your friends, or putting on your favorite heirloom than any one big moment. And some of the things I’m most inspired by are interesting leaves I’ve found or a bird chirping outside my window. This book feels like an exploration of that. A return to the beauty that is often overlooked.
My favorite detail about the book are the ‘Secret Recipes.’ They are just regular recipes but I love the name. It makes it feel like I’ve stumbled upon something very few people know about or will take the time to invest in. There’s one for each season and all of them are breads. My favorite is the fall recipe for chestnut bread. I’m not super familiar with chestnut flavors but I’ve started making a soup this year that is like 30% chestnuts that I have come to really enjoy. I don’t know why but I’ve been resonating with chestnuts deeply and plan to try this bread soon. I’m also an avid bread baker, so I’m always looking for new recipes.
There’s a recipe in here that I really adore called Snow Oil. I’ve never heard of it before, probably because I live in Los Angeles where I don’t have access to snow. But one of my life goals is to have a cabin in Sweden or Norway. I have a small percentage of Scandinavian heritage according to my DNA results and I’ve always loved resonated with the Nordic lifestyle. As soon as I get a chance, I’m trying this recipe. If you live someplace cold, please give it a try and let me know how it goes.
In addition to apothecary recipes, you can find a profile on one animal for each season, different herbs and trees, and even DIY projects. Among my favorite recipes and crafts are Plant Jewelry (page 79), Runes with River Stones (page 113), and Preserve Herbs (page 145). My favorite animal profile is the hare. Hares and rabbits are often used interchangeably but they are different animals and she talks about that in the book. She also mentions their connection to the moon, among other things. I love hares. They are one of my favorite animals and I really appreciated the information she’s provided in the profile.
Another notable detail I’ve enjoyed are the “Herbana Witch Messages” for each season. They consist of a few paragraphs, detailing a way to support yourself through that season’s months. You can find them at the end of each section, almost like a parting nugget of wisdom. Not to mention, they are among the most beautiful pages of the book.
The book is in full color with nice think pages and covers, something I am coming to expect from Weiser books. The title is in turquoise foiling and the color palette is very earthy. There seems to be a trend emerging of earthy, more subdued works and I couldn’t be happier about it. Every single page has beautiful illustrations and if you’re someone who likes to take notes in your book, you will find the paper pretty easy to write on. But there is a section in the back for notes if you don’t want to mess up the other pages.
All in all, I enjoyed the book. I wouldn’t call it a herbal resource exactly or even a witchy resource although there is plenty of valuable information on both topics. It feels more like finding someone’s personal grimoire. I really felt like I was taking this journey through the seasons with the author, rather than picking up a manual on how to do things. There are a lot of seasonal living books emerging and I’m happy to see this one among them.
I will say, I think this book could’ve gone from great to spectacular if it were a workbook or journal of some kind. It has a lot of recipes and information but I feel like if it were presented as a grimoire, with space where you can fill in your own workings, it would’ve been absolutely marvelous. I would love to see a companion journal with it at some point and I would absolutely love to see the illustrator have an oracle or tarot deck.
Who is this book for?
I think this is a solid book for beginners to semi-intermediate. I did learn a thing or too but I wouldn’t say enough for someone who’s very advanced to feel like it blew their mind. And that’s perfectly ok. There are so many new mystics who are just finding their way to this material and for them, I think this is an excellent introduction to seasonal, mystical living.
Any books you’d like a review on? Have any questions about decks at all? Leave me a comment and stay tuned for more reviews.
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