Herbs & Oils

This article provides a comprehensive overview of walnut trees (*Juglans* spp.), examining their botanical characteristics, cultivation requirements, and practical applications in gardening, culinary use, and traditional practices. The discussion encompasses the allelopathic properties of walnut trees, particularly the production of juglone and its effects on companion planting, as well as guidance on harvesting, storage, and nutritional benefits of the nuts.

This article provides an introduction to wildcrafting, defined as the practice of gathering wild plants and mushrooms for food and medicinal purposes. The text outlines ethical and sustainable harvesting principles, including considerations for native versus invasive species, legal requirements such as obtaining permits and respecting property boundaries, and ecological guidelines for responsible collection that preserves plant populations and ecosystem health.

This article explores wortcunning, an Old English term denoting the comprehensive knowledge of plants’ healing and magical properties alongside the practical skills required for their application, including the preparation of herbal remedies, cosmetics, and spiritually-oriented formulations.

This article provides an overview of yarrow (*Achillea millefolium*), examining its botanical characteristics, traditional folklore, and attributed magical properties as documented in Western folk herbalism and spiritual practice. Readers will learn methods for identifying and propagating yarrow, distinguishing it from potentially toxic look-alikes, and understanding its historical applications in protection rituals, love divination, and wound healing according to belief-based traditions.

This article provides an overview of yellow alder (*Turnera ulmifolia*), a tropical shrub native to the Caribbean basin, examining both its horticultural characteristics and its associations with traditional healing practices.

This article examines the yew tree (*Taxus baccata*) through botanical, historical, and esoteric lenses, providing readers with an overview of its cultivation characteristics, folkloric significance, and attributed magical properties. The text traces yew’s role in medieval European history—particularly its use in longbow construction and its traditional placement in churchyards—while also addressing practical considerations regarding its toxicity and propagation requirements.