If you have a witch on your gift list and aren't sure what to give him or her for the holidays, I have some great ideas for you. Each Wednesday from now until Yule, I'll be sharing a little list of gifts for witches and pagans (and a lot of them would make great gifts for regular folk too). My lists will emphasize hand crafted, ethically sourced, organic ingredients and natural materials. And most of what I feature will be created by small or family-owned businesses in the United States.
This week I'll be featuring gifts from - and for - the apothecary. The first three are magical items made by herbalists and witches, and the last three are gifts to inspire and empower the witch who wants to create her own herbal magic and medicine.
A Surprise Box - or a 6 month Suprise Box Subscription - from King's RoadApothecary. Each surprise box has an assortment of handcrafted herbal treasures centered on a theme like "Smoke and Sacred" or "Thorn and Bramble."
Why you can feel good about it: Handmade in the United States by an herbalist with a deep spiritual connection to her work and the land, devoted to sustainable harvest practices and working to protect and preserve the ecosystem.
Also Try: Acorn and Roots Morning Brew
White Sleigh Winter Magic Elixir from One Willow Apothecaries. Asia Suler's blog and newsletter are deeply inspiring, and her products are endlessly creative and gorgeous.
Why you can feel good about it: Products hand made in the United States by an herbalist with a deep spiritual connection to her work and the land, devoted to sustainable harvest practices and working to protect and preserve the ecosystem.
Also try: Herbs for the Otherworld On-Line Course
Herbal Remedy Kit from Learning Herbs. This kit comes with supplies AND instructions for making basic herbal remedies in an accessible and enjoyable format.
Why you can feel good about it: According to the folks at Learning Herbs, "Our Passion is creating a supportive community that facilitates YOU and YOUR children feeling empowered to learn about the plants that grow around you." They provide multiple resources to help your average person get to know the plants in safe, simple, enjoyable ways.
Also try: Wildcraft Game for kids and families
A Mountain Rose Herbs Gift Certificate lets your favorite witch restock her spell cabinet with whatever she needs.
Why you can feel good about it: Mountain Rose Herbs makes the following promise: "From product quality and sustainable packaging, to fair trade practices and watershed conservation, we take pride in doing business right. Our core belief that people, plants, and planet are more important than profit guides everything we do." On top of all that, their products are wonderful. On the rare occasion I have to buy herbs instead of growing or foraging them, I go to Mountain Rose.
A subscription to Plant Healer Magazine "a full-color digital quarterly ... of the most in-depth herbal healing information, along with plant mythos, magic, savory cuisine, and fine arts ... inspiration and empowerment for the nontypical plant healer, a sense-filled celebration of alternative folk herbalism and culture."
Why you can feel good about it: The people who make this magazine KNOW the material they present. They live it. And that's amazing.
