endymions_bower

Some time ago I was asked by a regular reader to write a foreword for a book he'd just written. That happens from time to time, as many readers here know well, and it's something I like doing -- giving a signal boost to new authors, and not incidentally getting a little extra name exposure for myself, has always struck me as a win-win situation. So I asked to see the manuscript.

It's an astonishing work. Todd Elliot, the author, is a working farmer as well as an occultist, and he's spent years exploring the considerable overlap between those two fields. Many of us are all too used to books on "green magic" from people who couldn't reliably tell wheat from watercress and whose grasp of occult history is about as deep as what you'd find on your average TikTok video; Todd's work, The Cunning Farmer, comes from the opposite end of that spectrum. Here's the publisher's blurb:

"A guide to restoring the ancient relationship between farming and magic

• Explores how to reconnect with nature and use practical, nature-based magic for gardening and farming, fertility, and abundance

• Examines Moon work, plant magic, forest deities, Earth energies, weather magic, the cosmology of ritual, and how to work with land spirits

• Discusses folk magic traditions of North America and Western Europe, including the grimoire tradition, Western esotericism, alchemy, Kabbalah, and shamanism as well as Taoist principles and Reiki

Magic and farming, in the minds of ancient people, were not separate realms of life, but both were woven inextricably into the way people lived. Through libations, prayers, hymns, dances, sacrifices, and rituals, ancient farmers connected to the sacred forces, the gods, nature spirits, and ancestors to make the crops grow, keep the herds healthy, the weather favorable, and release energies of fertility. These rural farmer priests and priestesses of the ancient past are the spiritual ancestors of today’s cunning farmers.

This book explores folk magic traditions of North America and Western Europe, including the grimoire tradition and the practices of witches and cunning folk for increased fertility. Todd draws on Western esotericism, Taoist principles, alchemy, Kabbalah, Reiki, and shamanism to show how to use practical, nature-based magic, just like our ancestors, for more abundant gardening and farming. He shows how to work with land spirits, including meeting the place spirit of your land—the genius loci. He also explores working with Earth and Moon energies, plant magic and forest deities, and ritual. Learn how to deepen your connection to elemental and celestial forces and explore the idea of rewilding the imagination to enhance your relationship with nature and the spirits that call it home.

This book is not just a guide to farming, but to forging a relationship with the living land. It shows that we are surrounded by spiritual powers and, with their help, we can re-enchant and reconnect with the land that gives us life."

I heartily recommend this book for anyone interested in these topics. It's just now in print and can be picked up from the publisher here:

https://www.innertraditions.com/the-cunning-farmer

Current Mood: impressed
Current Music: Jethro Tull, "Cup of Wonder"

Reading

Page Summary

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags