The ecological witchcraft series is a collection of books and resources aimed at exploring the connection between witchcraft and the natural world. It seeks to highlight the importance of living in harmony with nature and understanding our role as stewards of the earth. This series delves into various aspects of ecological witchcraft, including herbalism, plant magic, animal allies, and earth-based rituals. It encourages practitioners to develop a deep relationship with the land and to cultivate a sense of reciprocity and respect for the natural world. The books in this series provide practical guidance on how to incorporate ecological principles into one's magical practice. They explore topics such as sustainable foraging, organic gardening, and ethical harvesting of magical plants.
Tell me a bit about your interest in shamanism.
Florence Peake, Grace Ndiritu, Emma Hart and Lucy Stein discuss what witch means to them and the work they have made inspired by objects in the collection of Exeter s Royal Albert Memorial Museum. Scott maintains a professional design and illustration practice using comics, illustrations, zines, and book arts to work through critical theory, philosophy, ethics, spirituality, sensation and social justice sabrinamscott.
They explore topics such as sustainable foraging, organic gardening, and ethical harvesting of magical plants. The aim is to empower witches to work in partnership with nature rather than exploiting it. Through the ecological witchcraft series, readers can learn about the folklore and mythology surrounding various plants and animals and how to incorporate those stories into their magical work.
Ecological witchcraft series
Our paper will examine the works of American witch Starhawk and British witch Rae Beth. Both write on the vital importance of the natural world to magical practice, in both spiritual and practical terms. We argue that they engage in ‘ecological thinking’, a mode of thought which offers guidance, both theoretical and practical, to both witches and non-witches in this current time of climate crisis. We argue that their deviation from traditional high magic, and their perspective as female practitioners is central to their approach to craft and offers a road-map for Anthropocene practitioners of magic.
We will examine their work through the lens of Capitalist critique and New Materialist philosophy. Firstly, we will invoke French historians Philippe Pignarre and Isabelle Stengers, who co-authored Capitalist Sorcery: Breaking the Spell, and who have shown us the role of the witch in interrogating ideologies and disrupting accepted political structures.
Pignarre and Stengers examine the work of Starhawk, the American witch, earth-activist and practitioner of earth-based spirituality, who spoke at a May Day rally in Seattle in the early 2010s to oppose the exploitation of natural resources in the name of capitalism. Capitalist Sorcery takes Starhawk’s speech and ritual, and expands the idea to envision a means by which the witch represents a resistant force, an alternative to capitalism. Karl Marx wrote that under capitalism, the world is ‘bewitched and distorted’.[1]The central insight of Pignarre and Stenger’s work is to show how the concept and person of the witch, as one who herself is capable of enchantment, wields a similar power to the capitalism that feeds ecological crisis and is thus an actor uniquely placed to resist and transform it.
We too will propose that female witchcraft - and its particular magic – is an effective means of ‘resisting the coming barbarism’ of climate change under capitalism (Stengers 2015). But we will also make connections between these magics and ecological thinking in general. And, rather than invoke the witch as an exception to the rule of impotence among Gaia’s children, we will seek to understand her techniques as reflective of emergent new ways of living and interacting in a world where non-humans, matter and ‘things’ are becoming recognised as sources of enchantment and vibrancy in their own right.
As Jane Bennett, another feminist eco-philosopher writes, the task for ecological thinking today is ‘to explore ways to engage effectively and sustainably this enchanting and dangerous matter-energy’.[2] We will argue that Starhawk and Rae Beth’s feminist ecological magick allows us to ‘devise new procedures, technologies, and regimes of perception that enables us to consult nonhumans more closely’.[3] Feminine witchcraft offers new ways of conceiving of, and resisting climate catastrophe, and we will argue that this ‘ecological magic’ has a vital part to play in – and lesson to teach – broader climate activism.
[1] Karl Marx, trans. David Bach, Capital, Volume 3 (Penguin: London, 1993), p. 969.
[2] Jane Bennett, Vibrant Matter (Duke University Press: North Carolina, 2010), p.ix
Simone Kotva is a Research Fellow at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Her first book, Effort and Grace (forthcoming with Bloomsbury), uncovers the theological origins of the French 'way of life' phenomenon. Her current project tackles the importance of spiritual exercise and practices of attention in environmental discourse, with particular reference to the Anthropocene.
It offers insights into the energetics of the natural world, teaching practitioners how to tap into the power and wisdom of the earth to enhance their spells and rituals. Additionally, this series addresses larger environmental issues, such as climate change and habitat destruction. It encourages witches to use their magical abilities to advocate for and protect the natural world. It highlights the importance of community building and collective action in creating positive change. Overall, the ecological witchcraft series serves as a guide for witches to deepen their connection to the earth and to incorporate principles of sustainability, respect, and reciprocity into their magical practice. It is an invitation to embrace a holistic and eco-conscious approach to witchcraft, one that acknowledges the interconnectedness of all living beings and seeks to create a more harmonious relationship with the natural world..
Reviews for "Plant Allies: Communicating with the Green World in Ecological Magic"
1. Name: Sarah - Rating: 2/5
I couldn't get into the Ecological Witchcraft series at all. I found the plot to be quite confusing and the characters to be one-dimensional and unrelatable. The author tried to incorporate too many environmental themes into the story, which made it feel forced and preachy. Overall, I was disappointed with this series and will not be continuing with it.
2. Name: Michael - Rating: 1/5
The Ecological Witchcraft series was a complete waste of time for me. The storyline was slow and lacked any real excitement or depth. The characters were dull and I never felt invested in their journey. Additionally, the constant heavy-handed messages about saving the planet felt more like a lecture than an enjoyable read. I regret picking up this series and would not recommend it to anyone.
3. Name: Emily - Rating: 2/5
I had high hopes for the Ecological Witchcraft series but was ultimately let down. The pacing was incredibly slow, making it difficult to stay engaged with the story. The eco-friendly themes were overtly obvious and often took away from the overall plot. The character development was also quite weak, leaving me disconnected from the protagonists. This series just wasn't for me.
4. Name: David - Rating: 1/5
The Ecological Witchcraft series felt like a recycled version of every environmental movie I've ever seen. The plot was predictable, the dialogue was trite, and the characters were uninspiring. I had hoped for a unique and gripping story, but unfortunately, this series fell flat. The author's attempt to combine witchcraft with ecological themes didn't work in my opinion, and I won't be recommending this series to anyone.
5. Name: Jessica - Rating: 2/5
The Ecological Witchcraft series was a disappointment for me. While I appreciated the author's attempt to shed light on environmental issues through a fictional lens, the execution fell short. The writing felt clunky and the pacing dragged on. I found myself losing interest and struggling to finish each book in the series. Although I could see the potential in the concept, it simply didn't deliver for me as a reader.