THE REAL WITCHES’ GARDEN
KATE WEST
Note to the reader The remedies and techniques in this book are not meant to be a substitute for professional medical care and treatment. They should not be used to treat a serious ailment without prior consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. Neither the publisher nor the author accepts any responsibility for how you choose to handle and use the herbs described in this book.
Element
An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GF
and Element are trademarks of HarperCollinsPublishers Limited
Published by Element 2004
© Kate West, 2004
Kate West asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work
Text illustrations by Chris Down
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
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Source ISBN: 9780007163229
Ebook Edition © FEBRUARY 2016 ISBN 9780007397280 Version: 2016-01-06
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This book is dedicated to Mags who returned to the Goddess in February 2003. Her friendship and her presence in the Craft are sorely missed.
‘May we meet and know love once again.’
CONTENTS
ONE: A Nature-Based Belief System
TWO: A Space for Living and the Craft
THREE: The Garden as your Sacred Space
FOUR: The Garden for the Goddess and the God
SIX: The Garden of Spells and Magic
ELEVEN: Lunar Gardening and Plant Care
Appendix ONE: What Witchcraft Really is!
Appendix TWO: Terms and Definitions
Appendix THREE: Take it from here …
Merry Meet!
If I were to ask you to describe a Witch’s garden you would probably envisage climbers growing up the walls of a thatched cottage, a profuse array of colourful and traditional country-cottage-type plants, and herbs to tend all kinds of ailments. But the reality is often nowhere near the dream. For just as Witches appear just like everyone else, so their gardens are as varied as those of other people. They could be large or small; they may be a scrap of concrete, a window box or just the kitchen windowsill. They