The Story & Details
Before witchcraft came in jars and boxes, it grew wild.
Wild Witchcraft: Folk Herbalism, Garden Magic, and Foraging for Spells, Rituals, and Remedies by Rebecca Beyer explores the relationship between plants, traditional knowledge and the landscapes in which magical practices developed.
Rooted in folk herbalism, foraging, garden magic and plant folklore, this beautifully illustrated book takes witchcraft beyond the altar and back into the woods, hedgerows, gardens and wild spaces where much of its botanical knowledge originated.
Rather than treating herbs as a list of correspondences to memorise, Beyer explores the history, traditions and practical uses of plants, encouraging a deeper understanding of the natural world and its place within folk magic.
It's an exploration of the relationship between people, plants and place, with practical ideas for bringing that knowledge into your own practice.
Inside the Book
- Folk herbalism and traditional plant knowledge
- Foraging and identifying useful wild plants
- Garden magic and working with cultivated herbs
- Plant folklore, historical associations and traditional uses
- Spells, rituals and botanical preparations
- Exploring the relationship between witchcraft and the natural landscape
Witchcraft Beyond the Altar
Plants have been gathered, cultivated and studied for generations, carrying practical, cultural and spiritual significance across different traditions.
Wild Witchcraft encourages readers to approach that knowledge with curiosity and care, learning about the plants themselves rather than relying entirely on modern interpretations of their magical properties.
Whether you're beginning to explore folk herbalism, developing a working apothecary or looking to connect your practice more closely with the landscape around you, this is a book intended to be read, questioned and returned to.
A note on plant safety: Never consume or prepare wild plants without reliable identification and appropriate safety knowledge. Some plants are poisonous, and others may interact with medicines or be unsuitable for particular individuals. Always forage responsibly and observe local laws and conservation guidance.
Part of The Library at Crystal Asylum, where old knowledge matters, curiosity is encouraged and witchcraft has never needed to be sanitised into something pretty enough for social media.