Elemental Magic by Nigel Pennick

I have read Elemental Magic – Traditional Practices for Working with the Energies of the Natural World. As the title suggests, the book contains information about the spiritual elements one can find in nature (trees, elements, stones, etc).

Earth – A Beautiful Quote

In the first chapter, the author shares a beautiful quote by a mediaeval German alchemist Basilius Valentinus:

‘The Earth is not an inanimate body, but is inhabited by the spirit which is its life and its soul. All created things draw their strength from the Earth Spirit. This spirit is life; it is nourished by the stars and gives nourishment to all living things that it shelters in her womb.’

Pictured below: A Gentle Druid absorbing energies from the beautiful Iberian mountains.

Colours

In the chapter titled Magic in Action, the author discusses colours. Among other things, he notes that blue green is the colour of the sea, of primal and unfathomable depth. This reminded me of Oswald Spengler’s take on the colour:

‘Blue and green are the colours of the heavens, the sea, the fruitful plan, the shadow of the Southern noon, the evening, the remote mountains. They are essentially atmospheric and not substantial colours. They are cold, they disembody, and they invoke impressions of expanse and distance and boundlessness. Blue and green are transcendent, spiritual, non-sensuous colours.’

Oswald Spengler – Decline of the West

Pictured below: A Sensitive Young Man wearing a tanktop in the colour of unfathomable depth.

Wassailing

Under the title Spirit Trees and the Wild Wood the author talks about wassailing:

‘It us customary each winter to honor the apple trees by wassailing, when traditional songs are sung and offerings of food and drink are left for the trees and the spirit-guardians of the orchard.’

Nigel Pennick – Elemental Magic. Page 74.

A quite wholesome tradition indeed! Survive the Jive made a documentary about wassailing for those who are interested:

Garlic Against Demonic Interference

In the chapter titled Precautions and Remedies the author notes the following about garlic:

‘Garlic (Allium sativum) is a tried-and-tested remedy against all kinds of malevolent spirits, harmful magic, and demonic interference.’

Nigel Pennick – Elemental Magic. Page 125.

Garlic is indeed the good stuff!

Conclusion

Elemental Magic is a concise (132 pages) and informative book. I enjoyed the book and can recommend it for those interested in European folklore!