I have a confession to make: for the majority of my witchy practice, I’ve steered clear of any books about Green Witchery, particularly when the content is focused on giving lists of magical correspondences. I cannot comprehend for the life of me how a Living Being could be reduced to that, a series of broad and often obnoxiously repetitive properties. Not kidding, reading some of the material relating to that topic, it seems at time that basically any plant can be used for protection or abundance.

It doesn’t stop with books either; social media platforms are filled with that kind of info, especially when geared towards beginner practitioners. Use rose for love, lavender for relaxation, cinnamon for prosperity. It’s everywhere, and it’s all the same.

What I don’t hear talked about as often are the plants themselves. Their qualities and behavior, their place in the world, the role a species plays in a given ecosystem, the cycles they go through, their strategies to survive and thrive, the wildlife and insects they interact with… You get where I’m going. Basically, I have an issue with seeing plants as just a means to an end in Witchcraft, another tool to be used, instead of encouraging practitioners to seek a deeper understanding and form a genuine partnership with them.

There are exceptions of course, but oftentimes it’s only books talking about animism that will encourage readers to consider Plant Allies in that way, as allies. But, one, that’s probably a tiny seed in an ever-growing forest of beginner-friendly resources about Witchcraft and, two, aren’t books about animistic practices typically sought after by people who are already on that path? Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong about one or the other, that’s a topic I’m always happy to talk about!

Alright, rant over. I actually wanted this article to feel very bright and positive, inspired by Spring and the colorful blossoms popping up all around. I mean, it all started with last week’s post, in which I told you all about my most recent love affair with rhododendrons, a stunningly gorgeous flower I’m getting more and more familiar with. Writing this article got me thinking about the ways wildflowers and plants in general have influenced my path as a Witch, how they’ve guided me, inspired me, and taught me some valuable lessons. Plants make wonderful partners and, as long as you treat them with respect, they will help you in your endeavors. Most of them won’t even ask for a thing in return; they are providers, nurturers, incredibly generous.

There are so many magical encounters throughout my own journey that I can think of, so many moments of connection and synchronicity. And the most memorable often took place here, in the Pacific Northwest. It’s doesn’t surprise me a bit; this is a very unique region, with an abundance of evergreen forests, coastal ecosystems and diverse plant life that make this area wildly inspiring for Nature-based spiritual practices like my own.

And that’s the point I actually wanted to get to in the first place: how unique places and ecosystems are. If you ask me, that’s where the true magic lies when it comes to Green Witchery – maybe even Witchcraft in general.

Wanna dip your toes or go deeper into the practice? I’ll give the same advice regardless of where you’re at in your journey. Prioritize herbs and plants from your local environment, learn about the key species that share the Land with you. Be specific, and if that’s a possibility, look for the differences between individuals within a same species. Finally, see how they respond to you and the attention you give them. I know it might sound weird but they do respond (if you care for houseplants, you know what I mean) and most of them are more than willing to share their stories, lessons, and medicine. And if they aren’t, maybe they’re just having a bad day. Life is everywhere and plants abundant; ask again someplace else.

Going back to my rhododendrons friends for a minute, since I started to engage with them, I noticed some subtle (and not so subtle) differences between the individuals living in my yard. One of them is basically a pure Rose Tree, all about beauty and grace, showing up with the most delicate pale pink blooms and an intoxicating scent that makes your head spin a little. On the other end, if I wanted to work towards protection or something like that, I would ask a different one for help: a tall, fierce tree that made it clear that this is her space. She has authority and won’t be messed with.

Perhaps some of you will argue that I’m just anthropomorphizing here. To be honest, I’ve stopped questioning myself about that possibility a long time ago, when I realized it didn’t serve me in any way. There’s no doubt in my mind that plant people have their own personalities and traits (again, if you care for houseplants or pets, you know). In fact, I’ll even go further and say that denying individual characteristics and qualities to plants or animals because that’s too close to our human experience is hindering us from connecting with them, from being of the same world. It’s a way to keep our distance, and in today’s world, we could use less of that.

Phew, this is not at all the post I thought I’d make today, and maybe I shouldn’t have started it as I did, criticizing books and beginner Witches content. The truth is, I wasn’t completely set on the topic I wanted to explore this week and I was running late on my schedule, so I went for a less structured, flow-of-consciousness kind of writing. Apparently, this is what’s running in my mind at the moment!

To be fair, lists of correspondences aren’t all that bad – they can and will offer beginners a good base to start from and get a taste of what the practice is. But if you only stick to them and keep seeing plants as mere tools for the Craft, I really think you’re missing out. Getting to know your environment and building relationships with the flora and fauna sharing the space with you is where the deeper magic lies. Working in that direction, you’ll often find that the ‘use’ you can make of a plant will go far beyond what you could imagine. I know it’s been the case for me on many, many occasions.

It takes time and dedication (well, not so much if you’re naturally curious about the world) but in the end, you’ll be amazed seeing how much stronger it can make your witchcraft practices ✨🔮🌿