The Herbal Alchemist's Handbook: A Grimoire of Philtres, Elixirs, Oils, Incense, and Formulas for Ritual Use

Wow! This is one of the best purchases I've made! I ordered based on the high rating and some people raving about it various places on the internet. So I went over to Amazon, found a good price, and ordered! Then I noticed some complaints. I started to worry. Well the book showed up.This book has surpassed every expectation I had! It's better then I could ever have hoped! It has some nice, basic rituals and mixtures in it. But the best part is all the information! Any Wiccan, Pagan, or Herbalist knows that the rituals and mixtures are all your own making. Its not like making brownies. So what you really need is the information to put it all together in tune to the Universe. This book may not have every last little thing under the Sun, but no book does. This is great for beginners or experts. The big plus is so much different information is all in one place! And orderly, not mixed up like handwritten notes. I would 100% recommend!

I thought this was a really good beginners book and would highly recommend it...and I have to many of my friends. For some reason I thought there would be a little bit more to this book but like I said it gave me a good start and basic understanding of herbal alchemy. The truth is I have not been able to make an elixir because I don't have all the supplies that would be necessary. You will easily be able to get the herbs you need but others supplies you will need (and maybe even a fire extinguisher lol) will cost you a little bit. I would definitely read more from this author because I also thought her clarity in her writing was very good.

Hands down, this is so far my favorite book on herbalism. I've learned so much and I'm still learning because it sits on my bedside table so that I can reference it often. I've tried many of the rituals and recipes which have been a success, and I'm understanding things like the importance of knowing what herbs go well with what zodiac sign. Great investment for this budding herbalist.

This is a very good book for the introductory alchemist. Nothing complex- and very straight forward. This book does deal more with general concepts and nothing super specific in relation to herbs, its a guide to get you started- it teaches concepts and also herbs that will be beneficial.Would recommend additional reading on herbs to get more of a grasp of what your getting into, but this book contains alot of the fundamental basics and even went into other areas such as numerology and natal charts.I recommend this book - its a good read!

Looks exactly like what i ordered. Still need to read it. Shipped over the weekend quickly. Very happy with my order. Wish it was a hard cover tho... It would add to the allure.

This is a gift to my grandson, for his birthday. The information in it is very good and I'm sure he's going to love it.

Gotta ask for more pictures. However, the recipes, herbal correspondences and instructions on the different types of brews and concoctions are invaluable. This book is great if you're need to look something up relatively quick. It's all spelled out and very concise.

A great intro to making some wonderful magickal mixtures. It gives the basic premise of formulating and creating the mixtures. I suppose I was hoping for more details on the alchemy and maybe more personal recipes (because Karen's blends are to die for), but that was my own expectation and is no reflection on the author.

Thanks! Thanks! Thanks!

This book will not assist an initiate spygerist. It has a small section on the planets, which any alchemist would already know, but mainly deals with 'majikal' and spells. This has no significant recipes for alchemical distillation, and the ones recommended are thrown together cheaply. buyer be ware.

I agree with the previous reviewer that this book has useful information about creating magic spells based on plant/planet attributions, and usefully encourages the reader to create their own magic spells based on the basic cook-book style recipes; the Magical Materia Medica is also well presented and useful. We are told about making pot-pourris, herbal baths and plant oils and accordingly which plant/planet correspondences can be used.However, to call the contents of this book Alchemy is a total mis-representation. Whilst Alchemy and magic overlap in certain areas, they are essentially different practices. If you read Manfred Junius' book Spagyrics you realise that the essence of Alchemy is "The Work", which takes decades, if not lifetimes, to perfect: Astrological timing of The Work and the days of precise lab work are what characterise Alchemy. Alchemy is practiced as a science, even though it is dedicated to God - the true purpose of Alchemy is to heal others, to perfect yourself, to know God/Atman/the Higher Self through the Work, and really *not* to manifest material abundance or get a better boss, or a hot new lover. So if you are looking for a book about Alchemy, this is not the one to choose.Further, I've only skimmed through the book for about half an hour but even so I noticed that the author seems to have made a few mistakes about the plants she uses, for instance she says that coffee came from Mexico and that it was used in rituals there, whereas coffee is in fact from Ethiopia. The information is also scant: there over 50 plants attributable to each planet, but here the author lists about 10 to 15, which makes the book seem "lite". The Alchemist's Kitchen is much more complete and has a great deal more correct information on the practice of Alchemy.Finally, as the author points out, the essence of magic is the way we focus our intention. Practicing magic is connecting with elemental forces *through ritual*, which is an inseperable aspect of the working. In the book, we are given the idea that the colour of the candle and the altar cloth matter, but essentially most of the spellwork in this book talks about how to light a charcoal briquette, fire risks and making sure our pets are safely out of the room. There is nothing to tell the novice about warding and charging a sacred space or ritually cleansing themselves or their implements, which is an essential part of all spellwork. If you are new to magic, this is perhaps not the best place to start: try Brandy Williams' book instead.

A very comprehensive guide arrived in good condition

A great book very informative