#rätsch

[keinjournalist]

Der erste Horrortrip, stell dir das nur mal vor! Ohne Leary, ohne McKenna, ohne Rätsch zu kennen. Allein irgendwo im Garten Eden, nur das Geräusch in den Ohren wie Adam auf ihrem gebratenen Oberschenkelknochen rumkaut.

[The first horror trip, just imagine that! Without Leary, without McKenna, without knowing Rätsch. Somewhere alone Eden. Only the screaming sound in the ears of Adam chewing on her roasted thigh bone.]

[im-a-dream-wizard]

My Personal Guide to Works pertaining to German, Bavarian, and Alpine Folk Magick

This is not an exhaustive list, just a list of sources that inform my practice. Readers will benefit from being able to read German (and sometimes Bavarian/Boarisch German).

Not all works are specific/exclusive to these folk practices and may include other traditions in addition.

I will be updating this list as I recall or find works to add to it. It is not alphabetized or organized in any specific way. If you’d like to recommend a title for this list, let me know!

Additionally, I cannot speak or vouch for any of the views or opinions of the authors. Some of these sources are certainly outdated and could potentially contain content that is offensive or bigoted, which is not something I endorse. Finally, there are some sources that are of debatable historical accuracy, so take them with a grain of salt.

Books

Pow-Wows or Long Lost Friend, John George Hohman

The Secret History of Christmas Baking by Linda Raedisch

The Old Magic of Christmas by Linda Raedisch

Night of the Witches by Linda Raedisch (a great resource for Walpurgisnacht)

Mountain Magic: Celtic Shamanism in the Austrian Alps by Christian Brunner

Alpine Magic by Christian Brunner

Pagan Christmas by Christian Rätsch and Claudia Müller-Ebeling

Göttin Holle by Gunivortus Goos (also available in English)

Hausgeister! by Janin Pisarek, Florian Schäfer, and Hannah Gritsch

Queens of the Wild by Ronald Hutton

Witchcraft and the Shamanic Journey Kenneth Johnson

Niederbayerische Sagen by Michael Waltinger

Witchcraft Medicine by Wolf-Dieter Storl, Christian Rätsch, Claudia Müller-Ebeling (available in both English and German)

Der Heilige Hain by Christian Rätsch

Von Sonnwend bis Rauhnacht by Valentin Kirschgruber

Witches and Pagans: Women in European Folk Religion, 700-1100 by Max Dashu

Spirit Beings in European Folklore 2 by Benjamin Adamah (I encourage you to read their sources as well, it’s important to find primary sources)

Deutsche Mythologie by Jacob Grimm (English as “Teutonic Mythology”) Please take Jacob Grimm with a grain of salt.

Handwörterbuch des deutschen Aberglaubens (There’s a lot of caveats to this, as it is highly outdated, but it is still a handy resource for reference. HOWEVER, good luck finding it. You might find some volumes available online but there are very few complete reprints of this encyclopedia, at least that are affordable.)

Tiefe Wälder, dunkle Legenden by Josef Probst

Malleus Maleficarum by Heinrich Kramer (This is basically a 15th century manual to “witch hunting” and contains bigotry and and a lot of factual inaccuracies. However, it has some content that can provide some insight into folk magic and superstition of the time. It is very violent and explains the torture process of those accused of witchcraft, so be warned)

Journals and Scholarly Articles

Holda: Between Folklore and Linguistics by Thomas Leek

Perchten and Krampusse: Living Mask Traditions in Austria and Bavaria by Molly Carter

Divination: Mother Holle as Goddess of Seerdom by Ullrich R. Kleinhempel

Percht und Krampus Felix and Ulrich Müller

The Distribution of The Legends of Frau Holle, Frau Percht, and Related Figures by Erika Timm

Perchta the Belly-Slitter and Her Kin: A View of Some Traditional Threatening Figures, Threats and Punishments by John B. Smith

Holle's Cry: Unearthing a Birth Goddess in a German Jewish Naming Ceremony by Jill Hammer

Content Creators

Ella Harrison

The Witches’ Cookery

De Spökenkyker: A great resource for Silesian-German folk practice!

[talonabraxas]

Aum Agnaye Swaha!

Amanita Muscaria "Fly Agaric" Talon Abraxas

Fly Agaric in Mythology

Mythologies from around the world echo the enigma of the Fly Agaric. Everywhere it is seen as a semi-divine being and often it is associated with the mighty thunder gods and their cosmic fire. In India, for example, Fly Agaric is sacred to Agni, the god of fire. His devotees made sacrificial offerings of Fly Agaric while partaking of it as a sacrament. It is said to have helped them to commune with their god.

In Mayan dialects, Fly Agaric is known as ‘Kukulja’, which also means ‘thunder’. The Lacandon Maya call it ‘Eh kib lu’um’, which translates as ‘ the Light of the Earth‘ (Rätsch).

In parts of northern and Eastern Europe, it is sometimes called ‘Raven Bread’ in allusion to Woden’s companions. According to legend, the wise ravens were Woden’s constant companions. They would travel on his shoulders, whispering many a secret into his ears. Woden /Thor is a thunder-god. He is a wild, shamanic god of nature, who commands the elements. He gallops across the sky on his brave steed, Sleipnir, the eight-legged stallion, who runs swift as the wind and kicks up the storm clouds in his wake. As he gathers speed, foam forms at the horse’s mouth and drops to the earth. Magically, each drop of foam becomes a Fly Agaric.

In Western mythology, the Fly Agaric represents the archetypal mushroom – even people who know nothing about fungi recognize it at once. But, depending on their heritage, people are mostly conditioned to fear all mushrooms (a condition known as ’mycophobia’). Only the flavorless varieties found on supermarket shelves are believed to be edible. (This has changed a bit, in recent years, as Eastern Europeans, who love mushrooms, have brought their love of fungi with them as they migrated around Europe.

[prettyqueerwitch]

My Spiritual Book TBR's

This is mainly for me to have a comprehensive list but also might help others in finding books to read!

Marked ♡ means I own the book

Read

• Witchery by Juliet Diaz

• The Green Witch by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

• Witch, Please by Victoria Maxwell

Currently Reading

To Be Read

♡ The Altar Within by Juliet Diaz

♡ Plant Witchery by Juliet Diaz

♡ Encyclopedia of Spirits by Judika Illes

• Encyclopedia of Witchcraft by Judika Illes

• Encyclopedia of Mystics, Saints, & Sages by Judika Illes

• Moon Magic by Diane Ahlquist

♡ The Moon Book by Sarah Faith Gottesdiener

♡ Magical Healing by Hexe Claire

• The Long Lost Friend by John George Hohman

• Hex and Spellwork by Karl Herr

♡ Witchcraft Medicine by Claudia Müller-Ebeling, Christian Rätsch, and Wolf-Dieter Storl

• How to Study Magic by Sarah Lyons

• Love is In The Earth by Melody

• Radical Remedies by Brittany Ducham

♡ Spiritual Ecology by Multiple People (Llewellyn)

♡ A Witch's Shadow Magic Compendium by Raven Digitalis

• The Witch at The Forests Edge by Christine Grace

• Six Ways by Aidan Wachter

♡ Honoring Your Ancestors by Mallorie Vaudoise

• Year of The Witch by Temperance Alden

♡ Weave The Liminal by Laura Tempest Zakroff

♡ The Book of Candle Magic by Madame Pamita and Judika Illes

• The Triumph of the Moon by Ronald Hutton

♡ Folk Witchcraft by Roger J. Horne

♡ Wild Witchcraft by Rebecca Beyer

♡ The Spiral Dance by Starhawk

• Spells for Change by Frankie Castanea

• Utterly Wicked by Dorothy Morrison

♡ Of Blood and Bones by Kate Freuler

♡ The Little Work by Durgadas Allon Duriel

• Entering Hekates Garden by Cyndi Brannen

• Entering Hekates Cave by Cyndi Brannen

• Nordic Runes by Paul Rhys Mountfort

• The Book of Spells by Ella Harrison

• Plants of the Devil by Corinne Boyer

♡ Besom, Stang, and Sword by Christopher Orapello, Tara-Love Maguire

♡ Inner Witch by Gabriela Herstik

♡ Psychic Witch by Mat Auryn

♡ The Black Arts by Richard Cavendish

• Blackthorn's Botanical Magic by Amy Blackthorn

• Astrology for Real Life by Theresa Reed

♡ Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom

• The Trotula by Monica H. Green

• Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

• Bringing Race to the Table: Exploring Racism in the Pagan Community by Crystal Blanton, Taylor Ellwood, and Brandy Williams

• God Against the Gods by Jonathan Kirsch

• Pure Magic by Judika Illes

• Folk Magic by Mari Silva

• Witches Herbal Primer by Amy Cesari

♡ New World Witchery by Cory Thomas Hutcherson

•Magical Folk Healing by DJ Conway

• The Pagan Book of Days by Nigel Pennick

♡ Lady of The Night by Edain McCoy

♡ Spellcraft for a Magical Year by Sarah Bartlett

♡ The Complete Lenormand Oracle Handbook by Catlín Matthews

♡ Natural Magic by Pamela Ball

♡ Rebel Witch by Kelly-Ann Maddox

♡ The Only Astrology Book You'll Ever Need by Joanna Martine Woolfolk

♡ Mastering Magick by Mat Auryn

♡ In-focus Crystals by Bernice Cockram

♡ The Complete Grimoire by Lidia Pradas

• The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells by Judika Illes

And that took a while but we're done! Will probably update this as I go <3

[gefdreamsofthesea]

I'm reading Witchcraft Medicine by Claudia Müeller-Ebeling, Christian Rätsch, and Wolf-Dieter Storl, it is about plants. All of the citations are pretty old and I don't trust it, but so far it's been a source of more bonkers plant lore (the other source are the plant folklore books by Corinne Boyer). Some examples:

Hazel is for sluts (note: sluts includes Odin and Thor)

Ferns are great but they are also "crazy herbs" associated with the devil

Incubi hate dill apparently

I will update as I find more.

[maskmonday]

Tschore und Rätsch by Horst Hoch Via Flickr: Umzug am Gumpigen - Fat Thursday's parade 2009 Narrenzunft Aulendorf - Tschore und Rätsch fool guild Aulendorf. Characters of the Swabian-Alemannic carnival called Tschore und Rätsch with a wooden masks.

[poisonerspath]

Getting inspired for tonight's class on Atropa belladonna, part of my Plants of the Poison Path Series. Witch's Garden by Sandra Lawrence, Poison Prescriptions by Seed Sistas and Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants by the late Christian Rätsch. Also I've gathered all of the belladonna things and my book The Poison Path Herbal. This is going to be a huge dump of information in this 2ish hour class. Sign up is closed but you can sign up for my next class on Datura! Belladonna is my favorite poisonous plant and my main plant spirit ally. She has been one of the main guiding forces in my work on the poison path. There is so much yet to be discovered on this amazing plant and I'm happy to share anything I've come across so far! #DeadlyNightshade #AtropaBelladonna #Belladonna #Solanaceous #WitchingHerbs #HexingHerbs #botanicaobscuraconference #poisonpath #thepoisonpath #veneficium #banefulherbs #poisonousplants #ethnobotany #pharmakeia #ethnobotanical #ethnobotany #pharmacognosy #plantspiritmedicine #plantspirithealing #plantlore #poisonousplants #toxicology #ethnopharmacology #entheogens #entheology https://www.instagram.com/p/CncUiUjrl-k/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[gardenshamaneu]

Datura wrightii flower...getting ready to open up for its final transformation 😊🙏 Keep it growing #datura #daturaWrightii #daturaseeds #daturaplants #stechapfel #daturastramonium #daturametel #daturainoxia #gardenshamaneu #nachtschattengewächs #nightshade #nightshadeplants #nachtschattenpflanzen #storl #rätsch #gardenshaman #gardenshaman.eu https://www.instagram.com/p/CRrdVC5sIWm/?utm_medium=tumblr

[hexenshopdarkphoenix]

Wir haben ein vielfältiges #räucherwerk Angebot im #hexenshopdarkphoenix 🌛🌚🌜#rätsch #räuchern #avalon #olibanum #oman #weihrauch https://www.instagram.com/p/CHcRqkxH6_m/?igshid=8qmy76yckvz9

[clouds-of-wings]

When the shaman gives you a quest

[ifeellikeineedtoexplainmyself]

👁️

[hanftube]

RIP Christian Rätsch – ich habe mich bei dem Mann immer etwas zurückgehalten, da es nicht meine Kernthemen trifft und ich in den Bereichen eher laienhaft an der Oberfläche kratze. Nun bin ich mal wieder geschockt, in Social Media über das Ableben lieber Menschen zu lesen, die unserem Anliegen viel geben konnten.

[the-darkest-of-lights]

Green witchcraft Book recommendations

Beginners:

The dictionary of sacred and medicinal plants by Ratsch

Cunning hams encyclopedia of magical herbs by Cunningham

Grimoire for the green witch by Moura

The way of the green witch by Murphy Hiscock

Wortcunning a folk magic herbal/ a folk medicine herbal by Pearson

Green witchcraft by Vanderbeck

Flower lore and legend by Beals

Complete formulary of magical oils by Heldstab

Sacred plant medicine by Harrod Buhner

Wisdom of the plant devas by Summer Deer

Handbook of medical herbs by Duke

Medicinal herbalism by David Hoffmann

The encyclopedia of herbs by Tucker and Degaggio

The witching herbs by Roth

The illustrated herbiary by Toll

The complete illuminated encyclopedia of magical plants by Gregg

The magic of herbs by Conway

Magical herbalism by Cunningham

Green witchcraft 1, 2, 3 by Moura

—-Advanced:

Witchcraft medicine by Müller-Ebeling

Mastering witchcraft by Hudson

The plant spirit familiar by Penczak

The Grimoire of the thorn blooded witch by Grimassi

The witches ointment by Hatsis

Under the bramble arch by Boyer

Silent as the trees by Gary

Under the witching tree by Boyer

Real alchemy by Bartlett

Alchemist handbook by Albertus

The herbal alchemist handbook by Harrison

The magical and ritual use of herbs by Miller

The hedge druids craft by Der Hoeven

Wicca Garden By Gerina Dunwich

Medicinal herbs and poisonous plants by Ellis

Psychedelic shamanism by DeKorne

Plants of the gods by Schultes, Hofmann, Rätsch

The encyclopedia of psychoactive plants by Rätsch

Veneficium by Schulke

Pharmako poeia by Pendell

Viridarium Umbris by Schulke

Thirteen pathways of occult herbalism by Schulke

[breelandwalker]

Hi Bree, do you know of any good books for herbology and folklore? I want to expand upon my knowledge of herbs and plants. Thank you in advance!

Folklore would largely depend on what region you’d want to focus on, but I do have a number of recommendations for books on plants and herbology.

Here are my usual recs for plant magic books:

GREEN WITCHCRAFT

Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (Cunningham)

Garden Witchery (Dugan)

The Garden Witch’s Herbal (Dugan)

The Sacred Herbs of Samhain (Hopman)

The Real Witches’ Garden (West)

The Hearth Witch’s Compendium (Franklin)

The Hearth Witch’s Kitchen Herbal (Franklin)

The Green Witch Herbal (Griggs)

PRACTICAL HERBOLOGY

The Complete Guide to Herbal Medicines (Fetrow & Avila)

Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs (Carr)

Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs (Peterson Field Guides)

Edible Wild Plants (Peterson Field Guides)

Herbal Remedies (Chevallier)

The New American Herbal (Orr)

The Herbal Medicine-Maker’s Handbook (Green)

HISTORY OF PLANT MAGIC AND MEDICINE

Witchcraft Medicine: Healing Arts, Shamanic Practices, and Forbidden Plants (Rätsch, Müller-Ebeling, and Storl)

The Untold History of Healing: Plant Lore and Medicinal Magic from the Stone Age to Present (Storl)

Folklore and Symbolism of Flowers, Plants, and Trees (Lehner)

Culpeper’s Complete Herbal & English Physician (Culpeper)

It looks like a lot, I know. Options are good to have, and it's also important to have practical sources on your shelves in addition to your magical books. I also posted some pictures of my personal library a while back. They're a little out of date, but you can see the titles pretty clearly, and that might give you some more ideas. If you're looking for books on working with plant spirits, I suggest looking into sources on druidry. (I'm just getting into that myself.) Dana O'Driscoll's Wordpress blog is a wealth of information on the topic.

I hope this helps! Remember as you're building your library that it's okay to keep what serves you and pass on the books that you don't find helpful or appealing. I've been revising my own collection for years now and it's gone through significant changes during that time. 

I’m going to be talking about how to find good sources and build your witchcraft library in a future episode of Hex Positive as well. :)

[appleandelder]

The Posion Path reading list from Sarah Anne Lawless

The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants by Christian Rätsch

The Encyclopedia of Aphrodisiacs by Christian Rätsch and Claudia Müller

Hallucinogens and Shamanism edited by Michael Harner

Herbs & Things by Jeanne Rose

Magical and Ritual Use of Aphrodisiacs by Richard Alan Miller

Magical and Ritual Uses of Herbs by Richard Alan Miller

Pharmako series (three books) by Dale Pendell

Sacred and Herbal Healing Beers by Stephen Harrod Buhner

The Long Trip: a Prehistory of Psychedelia by Paul Devereux

Toads and Toadstools by Adrian Morgan

The Mystic Mandrake by C.J.S. Thompson

Uses and Abuses of Plant Dervied Smoke by Marcello Pennacchio, Lara Jefferson, and Kayri Havens

Veneficium by Daniel Schulke

Witchcraft Medicine: Healing Arts, Shamanic Practices, and Forbidden Plants by Claudia Müller-Ebeling, Christian Rätsch, and Wolf-Dieter Storl

Datura: An Anthology of Esoteric Poesis edited by Ruby Sara

The Poison Diaries by Jane, Duchess of Northumberland

Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln’s Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities by Amy Stewart

*found on Scribd and transcribed for easier reference. I have not read the majority of these books...yet*

[poisonerspath]

Prior to writing the Encyclopedia of Aphrodisiacs which is much more extensive, the late Christian Rätsch wrote the book Plants of Love with foreward by Albert Hoffman. It is one of the most comprehensive books to date one the ritual and ceremonial use of aphrodisiacs historically and presently, including detailed information on photochemistry. It even includes the nightshades. This is very important to me because it provides information beyond “these plants are dangerous” to show what people actually used them for. It’s organized similarly to the encyclopedia with similar tables and such. Published in 1997 he dedicates the book to wife Claudia Müeller-Ebeling. - #aphrodisiacs #sexmagic #lovemagic #plantsoflove #christianrätsch #ethnobotany #entheogens #plantmedicine #plantspiritmedicine #arsaphrodisia #poisonpath #veneficium https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci77JacrcL3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=