Absolutely loved this book! I’ve recommended it to all of my friends. It’s beautifully written, well explained and really helps you develop a connection with the plants you’re working with.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read and review this book. It had Beautiful illustrations. Also, it was pretty easy to read and understand.

This is an utterly stunning book, not just because of its illustrations but also for Maia Toll's selection of her botanicals.
A big part of this book's draw is just how colourful and vibrant it is. This makes it an enjoyable read that is also a soothing reading experience.
I enjoyed the 36 botanicals Toll chose and I like how every chapter includes a little introduction on the herb as well as a way to incorporate it into a ritual and guidance on how to use it for reflection. However, it is key to know that this book is linked to using herbs with your tarot practice, so if tarot is not something you're engaging with you may get less out of this. This also isn't a deep history of these herbs but rather a loose meditations on them.

While this is another book that didn't load well on Adobe the book was truly luscious and a delight. I will be probably buying this boo to add to my collection of herb books as herbs were used in this that I don't usually use.

First of all, I have to say I loved Maia Toll's The Illustrated Herbiary. I'm always a fan of reading about herbs and other plants. Second, Katherine O'Hara's illustrations are beautiful and perhaps my favorite part of the book. The book is able to pack a ton of different information into it and a great resource I'll definitely return to. At some point, I plan to buy a physical copy of this because I need to have as part of my collection!

Thank you Storey Publishing amd Netgalley for an advance copy read of this book in return for my honest opinion.

This was a beautifully illustrated book that I loved Dipping in amd out of. I learned alot about different herbs and their uses. This is a beautiful book to give as a gift.

The Illustrated Herbiary: Guidance and Rituals from 36 Bewitching Botanicals is a guide written by Maia Toll, with illustrations by Katherine O'Hara. Rosemary is for remembrance; sage is for wisdom. The symbolism of plants — whether in the ancient Greek doctrine of signatures or the Victorian secret language of flowers — has fascinated us for centuries. Contemporary herbalist Maia Toll adds her distinctive spin to this tradition with profiles of the mysterious personalities of 36 herbs, fruits, and flowers. Combining a passion for plants with imagery reminiscent of tarot, enticing text offers reflections and rituals to tap into each plant’s power for healing, self-reflection, and everyday guidance. Smaller versions of the illustrations are featured on 36 cards to help guide your thoughts and meditations.

The Illustrated Herbiary: Guidance and Rituals from 36 Bewitching Botanicals is a lovely book for both exploring to expand your knowledge and understanding of herbs, and to narrow in on a certain plant and better understand it. I like that the book explains the path to knowledge that led to the book I also really enjoyed the artwork, beautiful regardless of if it is there to decorate a section's beginning or to illustrate the herb being explained and explored. As someone that grows their own herbs and enjoys explore their uses, understands that most medicine began with the basics of herbal knowledge, and the belief in science and study I found the idea and approach of this book to resonate with me on several levels. For those looking for a new way to center themselves or meditate these rituals could be just what they are looking for. Since I was reading a digital copy I did not have the botanical cards, and so did not got to try the layouts and ideas offered at the end of the book for their use. However, I did like the ideas for rituals and the new ways of looking at some of my favorite herbs, and some that I had never thought too much about.

This book is exactly what you would expect from the title, and has lovely illustrations alongside the text throughout the entire book. If this is the type of information and ritual that hold interest for you, this book will be a valuable addition to your library.

The Illistrated Herbiary is a beautiful, wonderous book. This beautiful is the first of its kind, yes there are other herb based books out there however there are none as beautiful as this. The illustrations are magnificent throughout, bright, bold and with extra magical touches.

The information is well presented and organised and the details are accurate and very accessible to all levels of readers. If you’re a beginner this book would be perfect and yet an advanced herbalist would also adore this book.

What I particularly liked is the oracle messages that are included which are really lovely if like me you’re interested in divination.

The physical copy of this book also includes cards with full size images, which I have since bought.

I will gifting this stunning book as gifts this Christmas/Yuletide. I highly recommend this book and urge anyone with an interest in herbs, divination or just beautiful art get this book.

5 beautifully bewitching stars for this gorgeous illustrated herbal gem

When I first received this book for review, I was looking forward to reading what it had to say but I wasn't expecting such an enchanting read that resonated with me on a personal level. I was caught, and most certainly invested in the tale the author had to weave because her journey was as mine is and I connected.

Yes, I wanted to learn about the botanicals and the story that the author had to tell but this was just, well, bewitching from the first page. The writing style, the storytelling, the details and the scene that was set was just really beautiful and comforting at the same time.

"Rosemary is for remembrance; Sage is for wisdom..."

Learning more about the power of plants and herbs and the healing with which they offer was immensely enjoyable and it took my interest and added to its depth and also my appreciation for the benefits they can and do bestow on us. Plant magic is a beautiful thing to behold and I felt like this book had a perfect coupling of the health benefits and magically holistic properties that comes with it.

With that being said, I had to get the hardcover for my shelf and I'm very happy with my purchase.
I certainly look forward to more that this author has to offer.


an advance reading copy was provided by the publisher in exchange of an honest review.

This is such a outstanding beautiful book that I am buying myself a hard copy to keep and refer to.
This is a expansive guide done with gorgeous illustrations that invite the reader to reconnect with our earth, with herbs, with herbal healing and intentions.
Such a beautifully illustrated book that the book deserves to be in your home library. . The author has extensively covered using botanicals , herbs and reconnecting to our use of medicinal plants and herbs that elevate our lives. Smudging and common ailments are covered here. The recipes are sensible and wise beyond our years. The illustrations are so beautiful that they sooth your soul.
I adored this amazing book. I recommend it quite highly. I received this book from Net Galley and Storey publishing for a honest opinion. I thank you with gratitude for this fantastic book that I will refer to for many years to come . 5 stars but this book is one in a million and deserves 1000 star reviews. Thank you to the author for this amazing book.

What a gorgeous book/companion to the herbiary oracle deck. I loved the illustrations so much! The book and deck allow the reader to incorporate herbs and flowers into their metaphysical/pagan practice which helps to strengthen their bond with the natural world. I know for me I find it difficult to know what to with herbs and can find traditional spell work intimidating, this book takes away the stigmas and fears of doing something wrong. The meditations and rituals are simple and easy to follow. They're also approachable whether you are a witch or just someone who enjoys dabbling in the metaphysical world or working with oracle decks. I really enjoyed reading Maia Toll's book and will definitely be trying the rituals for myself.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review
This book was different to what I was expecting in the best possible way. Rather than a encyclopedia of herbs I thought it would be, it is a reflective look at a selection of plants and their meanings and uses with the view to guide the reader in meditation and life. The illustrations are beautifully vibrant, bold with the distinctive look of tarot cards which complement the easy-to-read text well. I loved the insight into the meanings of the plants, inspiring quotes, snippets of information and the simple rituals you can slip into your daily routine. It was a pleasure to read as a book but with the additional cards included with the physical copy I am certain the oracle potential will come into its own. I keep returning to my copy; the more I do, the more I see, and the more magical and grounding it is. I feel lucky, Maia Toll has shared some of the knowledge she learnt from her year stay in Ireland with a healer and herbalist. As I look at the plants in my garden and in the Yorkshire countryside I have a greater appreciation and connection to them.

Would I recommend?

It may not be the in-depth book I was expecting but I long to have a physical copy of this magical, insightful book and the accompanying cards on my bookshelf to delve into for guidance and inspiration. I need this book so they are high on my Christmas wish list, if I can wait that long.

I'm starting to think about Christmas gifts (yes already) and when I saw this book up for request on NetGalley I knew I had to grab it and check it out. My daughter is into all things "magic" and "occult," and this seemed like it could be an excellent gift for her come December 25th.

So first thing first, this book is just a real pleasure to look at. It is bright, colorful, and artsy. It is chocked full of beautiful illustrations, quotes, and interesting typography. It starts out with a preface and a short introduction. That is followed by THE HERBIARY which includes chapters on thirty-six different plants and flowers. Each section gives a little overview of the plant/flower and includes both a ritual and a reflection as well. After the Herbiary chapter, we get a short introduction on how to work with Herbiary cards (which come included with the book purchase).

All in all, this was an interesting and visually pleasing (add in the cards that come with it) book, and I am confident this will be a hit gift-wise for anyone who loves all things "occult".

The first thing that struck me when I opened this book was how stunningly beautiful it is; I probably would have bought it for the illustrations alone (done by Kate O’Hara), but the real magic is in the text. Author and trained herbalist Maia Toll profiles 36 different plants -- mainly herbs and flowers, but trees, fruits, and even a grain make appearances as well-- in this gorgeous volume.

Toll honors each plant with a brief description of its use, though the emphasis is put not on its medicinal use (although, as an herbalist myself, I know these plants have their place in any healer’s tool kit) but on its spiritual gifts. The description of each is followed by a ritual -- anything from an oatmeal bath scrub to remind you to “just be,” to free writing to communicate with your ancestors-- and then a reflection on how you might invite the characteristics of the plant into your life or your spiritual practice. Aspen (”We are one”), for example, reminds us that we live in community even as we strive to be unique individuals. “Call on Aspen,” Toll writes, “She knows how to be cradled by the collective while stretching her very individual limbs up to the stars.”

With the book, you will receive a deck of cards with the illustrations for each plant. You can use these cards however you wish, of course, but there is ample room for their use as oracle cards. In fact, there are a handful of suggested spreads at the end of the book, including a “Root, Shoot, Flower, Fruit” 4-card spread that uses the life cycle of a plant to help you work through a situation, with the root helping you see where the situation started and the fruit helping you find that which will nourish you. If you are not interested in their use as oracle cards, however, the delightful artwork lends itself well to their decorative or aesthetic use.

As always, there are a few critiques, and as may be unsurprising, these center on the use of terms or items in ways that feel if not appropriative than at least walking a line of cultural (in)sensitivity. The ubiquitous use of smudging as a term for smoke cleansing is the major example (with a mention of Celtic and Middle Eastern cultures, but no mention of Native American/ First Nations cultures who, to my understanding, have the cultural if not legal rights to the term), and the suggestion of using Tulsi beads sort of got my hackles up since the only Tulsi beads I have seen are mala beads which, of course, come from a specific religious and cultural context. However, she does not suggest using the Tulsi beads as a tool for prayer, rather as a reminder to “carry the sacred out into the world and gift it to yourself upon your return,” so perhaps that’s more my concern over appropriation than actual inappropriate use of a cultural artefact -- I suspect I, as a white person, am not the one to make that final call, but did want to at least acknowledge the potential for discomfort there. I think the thing that I found most curious about the inclusion of Tulsi is the emphasis the author put on her education in the United States and Ireland, making this South Asian plant feel a bit out of place in the company of things like oats, apples, and yarrow.

These questions of cultural appropriate-ness notwithstanding, I did love the book and will read it again. In fact, despite the advance copy I was given in exchange for this review, I have already placed a pre-order for a hard copy of the book (and the attendant cards!). The book will be officially released on Tuesday, August 7, 2018, and I do highly recommend it if you are at all interested in the lessons we can learn from plants and the natural world.

Such a beautiful book! I have been an herbalist for 40 years and a teacher for over 20 years. This book brings back a missing piece to herbalism. It takes it from the head only and brings the heart back into herbalism. This is a book I will recommend to all my students and will have on my own bookshelf personally. Thank you Maia Toll for creating this book.

Such a thought out and beautifully illustrated book. It is well researched for using botanicals for helping with healing, sleep, relaxation and just feeling better in general. Using California poppy for sleep and rejuvenation was one that I tried and it worked well for me. This is not the normal herb book that you would use for curing a lung problem or rash. It is for reconnecting to the earth and yourself. The author speaks of her experiences with learning from different teachers which I enjoyed. The illustrations are so beautiful that I will be looking at them frequently to refresh my soul. I adored this amazing book. I recommend it highly. I recieved this book from Net Galley and Storey publishing for a honest review and no compensation otherwise. I give it a 5+

While I would not use this as true reference book it is still very pretty book lots of beautiful illustrations and nice alternative uses, descriptions, and properties.

A selection from Iphelia.com’s Editor’s Bookshelf review: While the science of herbalism and the application of plant medicine to various ailments and conditions have produced a great deal of captivating literature and research, The Illustrated Herbiary is not a manual on using plants as medicine per se. Rather, it is an inspirational guide reminiscent of Ted Andrew’s Animal Wise and encyclopedic books on dream interpretation. Flip to any page in The Illustrated Herbiary and you’ll be met by gorgeous illustrations and tidbits of wisdom inspired by a single plant. Captivated? Tuck into the plant-by-plant ritual and reflection Toll recommends to see where her suggestions and the plant on the page take you. If a given plant isn’t speaking to you, though, move on a few pages to see if you can find the right fit for your day or week.

In addition to illustrator Kate O’Hara’s highly detailed artwork, which emerges as a marriage of Eastern mandalas and Western manuscript illumination (the snake in the apple tree image is one of my favorites), the book is filled with inspirational quotes from visionaries from Brene Brown and Elizabeth Gilbert to Dolly Parton (yes, you read that right). Like Iphelia: Awakening the Gift of Feeling, The Illustrated Herbiary acknowledges the child self we all have within and suggests ways of soothing and celebrating this part of ourselves (see Toll’s daisy ritual for a wonderful exercise that maps onto Iphelia’s Love on Connected Kid practice). It also includes suggestions in the way of yoga poses, meditations, tips for mindful eating, breathing and journaling exercises, and means of moving energy (similar to Iphelia’s Anger Release Ritual), all inspired by plants.

The Illustrated Herbiary is a gem, quite literally given its jewel tones, that does not shy away from either the whimsy or the shadows we walk with. It’s a book I look forward to gifting—one that will be appreciated by landowners and apartment dwellers alike—and will be especially celebrated by anyone who has an affinity for the Old World (I’m looking at you, friends who attend Renaissance fairs!).

Loved this illustrated version of herbs. Its actually pretty interesting to see all the plants and uses.

I really thought this Herbiary would grant me new or at least interesting information. But sadly I was mistaken. Now don't get me wrong, if you're starting out this may be interesting enough but if you're hoping for something special or in detail? Buy a different book.