Every spring, the raw power of each Element works its magic on a seed, and Nature’s creative cycle begins anew. Your own magic and spellwork can flourish and grow when you plant, tend, and harvest your own herbs and flowers for magical use. It’s easy with the step-by-step techniques and practical advice found in Bud, Blossom, & Leaf.

This gardening grimoire offers over 125 spells, invocations, rituals, and recipes for your magical gardening practices. Inside, you’ll find:

• Magical garden shapes and themes for different purposes
• Recipes for culinary, cosmetic, and first aid uses for herbs
• The secret to appeasing fairies so your garden will thrive
• Tips for predicting the weather by using the moon and winds

With down-to-earth approaches rooted in magic, Bud, Blossom, & Leaf shows you how to enlist the help of Nature’s Elemental energies to create your own enchanted garden.

In the following excerpt, Dorothy Morrison explores the symbolism and magical portents of different garden shapes.

the symbolic garden
Another planning stage consideration is the shape your planting area should take. Will a standard rectangular version suit your purposes, or would another shape mirror your needs better? I like to use symbolic shapes for magical gardens because they illustrate the garden’s purpose to the Universe and reinforce the intent within the unconscious and subconscious minds. For example, I once grew a heart-shaped bed of radishes for a friend with a broken heart. Another time, I grew pots of pansies, forget-me-nots, spikenard, and lavender, planted them in a circle, and used their magic for a relative experiencing memory loss. The results were phenomenal. If these ideas appeal to you, jot down any appropriate shapes and pick one that best conveys your magical message. For your convenience, a few easily managed garden shapes or symbols are listed below.

Circle: The circle is a feminine shape that represents continuity and continual growth for the good of all. It is also a symbol of the birth/death/rebirth cycle.

Crescent: Use this shape to call upon the growth energy of the waxing moon. It also works well for general magic or efforts involving psychic power or divination.

Diamond: Because of its perfect symmetry, the diamond vibrates toward harmony. This makes it an excellent shape for meditation gardens or those used for culinary purposes. As this shape also vibrates toward the solidity of Earth, it’s a good bet for magical gardens involving prosperity and abundance, and issues of the family, home, and hearth.

Element Wheel: This garden is divided into four equal portions by an X in the center. Do some research and use plants that correspond to each Element in the appropriate section. Plant the center with those plants ruled by Akasha (spirit) if you like.

Moon Phases: This garden consists of a central circle with a crescent pointing outward on either side. Use it to honor the Maiden, Mother, and Crone, or to invoke the powers of the Moon.

Pentagram: Called the Witches’ Garden for obvious reasons, this layout is a five-pointed star encompassed by a circle. Because this is an all-protecting, omnimagical symbol, ideas for specific magical efforts are endless. For instance, you might dedicate it to the Elements by placing blooming plants in the colors and sections appropriate to Akasha, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth, and placing God or Goddess symbols or plants in the center.

Rectangle: Most gardens are planted in this shape for several reasons. For one thing, it’s easy to work with and accommodates a wide assortment of plants. But magically speaking, there’s another reason. The rectangle has tremendous holding power and acts as a magical binder. It works well for any magical garden, but especially for efforts involving protection, health and healing, or warding off harm.

Square: Since the square contains sides of equal length, a garden of this shape vibrates toward balance. As it provides the perfect symbol for solid, dependable, organized efforts, it can be used to increase the focus and concentration of any magical theme.

Triangle: Because this figure represents the creative force within, it works well for gardens planted to invoke the properties of imagination, inspiration, good fortune, and magical mastery. Plant it in three sections to invoke the powers of the Triple Goddess or Triple God.

Wheel: The wheel is a circle divided into eight equal sections or spokes. Use it to represent the Wheel of the Year, planting different herbs in each section. Place symbols of the God and Goddess—stones, seashells, a bird bath filled with water—in the center to represent the balance of male and female and the perfect harmony of the seasons.