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The Tameless Path: Unleashing the Power of Invasive Plants in Witchcraft
219 pages, Paperback
Published August 13, 2024
64 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 9, 2024
This is a great book for any green witch interested in gardening and foraging. It provides uses for common invasive plants that include culinary, medicinal, and magical.
The beginning of the book gives some background for why we call some plants 'weeds', magical associations, and herbalism applications.
The main section of the book is a list of several plants and how to use them. The sections include recipes as well. The back of the book has some great reference tables and appendixes.
I think this is one of the best green witchcraft books I have ever read and I really appreciated the sentiment of the book, seeing value in plants even if they aren't the first ones you think of as valuable. There is also a lesson in how we decide to deal with those plants. Do you need to aggressively attack them with poisons or is it better to learn to coexist?
Great book, I want to add it to my shelves. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers, and author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a review.
Longer review available on my blog at wordlywitch.blog
The beginning of the book gives some background for why we call some plants 'weeds', magical associations, and herbalism applications.
The main section of the book is a list of several plants and how to use them. The sections include recipes as well. The back of the book has some great reference tables and appendixes.
I think this is one of the best green witchcraft books I have ever read and I really appreciated the sentiment of the book, seeing value in plants even if they aren't the first ones you think of as valuable. There is also a lesson in how we decide to deal with those plants. Do you need to aggressively attack them with poisons or is it better to learn to coexist?
Great book, I want to add it to my shelves. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers, and author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a review.
Longer review available on my blog at wordlywitch.blog
January 26, 2025
wow, there was a lot in this book. it leans towards ceremonial magic, alchemy, and root work a little but I feel like all kinds of practitioners could get something from it. there's a section of planetary and zodiac correspondences and planetary hours, because the author refers to these often in their workings. there's a section including alchemical processes, but also really breaking down what a salve is, what a tincture is, what an oxymel is, a tisane - all sorts of herbal preparations. and then a section for each plant with a discussion of the plant and its invasive status, foraging recipes, herbal remedies, and magical applications.
there are quite a few highly poetic turns of phrase: "the hollow organs of holding", "the shepherdess of ghosts".
the author definitely does not shy away from the left hand path, they are full on, if you have access and inclination, grind up a human finger bone and add it to this working. I appreciate the inclusion even if I'm not big on hexes etc.
the take on invasive plants I agree with - they're almost never the threat that people paint them as, a lot of times they are the plants that thrive in disturbed and contaminated ground, and there's no cause to scapegoat and destroy them. I think a lot of the furor around invasive plants comes down to 1) capitalist agriculture and 2) projections of fears around immigrants. I love the concept of using their strengths and abundance in spellwork, foraging, and healing.
all in all, I wouldn't say this is a beginner book but it does cover a lot of ground and I feel like it's a valuable reference.
there are quite a few highly poetic turns of phrase: "the hollow organs of holding", "the shepherdess of ghosts".
the author definitely does not shy away from the left hand path, they are full on, if you have access and inclination, grind up a human finger bone and add it to this working. I appreciate the inclusion even if I'm not big on hexes etc.
the take on invasive plants I agree with - they're almost never the threat that people paint them as, a lot of times they are the plants that thrive in disturbed and contaminated ground, and there's no cause to scapegoat and destroy them. I think a lot of the furor around invasive plants comes down to 1) capitalist agriculture and 2) projections of fears around immigrants. I love the concept of using their strengths and abundance in spellwork, foraging, and healing.
all in all, I wouldn't say this is a beginner book but it does cover a lot of ground and I feel like it's a valuable reference.
December 18, 2025
This book is an absolute reckoning—a spellbook, manifesto, and field guide rolled into one. This isn’t armchair Mysticism or sanitized green aesthetics. This is Green Magick in its raw, living, breathing truth.
Cornell masterfully dismantles the idea that any plant is “evil” or disposable. Here, no plant is demonized—instead, every so-called invasive is revealed as powerful, intelligent, and deeply aligned with the land it now inhabits. This book reclaims them as allies, teachers, and catalysts for transformation.
What truly sets The Tameless Path ablaze is the author’s extensive and meticulous work with Planetary and Astrological correspondences. Each plant is woven into the greater cosmic clock—rooted in Earth yet ruled by stars. You can feel the precision of a Practitioner who knows how Mars burns through thorns, how Saturn fortifies roots, how Venus sweetens leaves, and how lunar tides pull sap and spell alike. This is astrology applied, not theorized.
And make no mistake—this book is practical as hell. Cornell delivers real recipes, hands-on foraging guidance, food uses, medicinal insights, and clever tips and tricks that only come from lived experience. Then, without skipping a beat, he carries you straight into Magickal applications, spellcraft, and Alchemical transformation. Every page asks you not just to read—but to do.
This is the epitome of Green Magick.
Plant Magick.
Alchemy.
A working Witch’s book. A feral herbal Grimoire. A reminder that power grows wild, untamed, and exactly where it’s needed most.
If you walk the Crooked Path, tend living Altars, or feel the pulse of the land beneath your feet—this book belongs in your hands.
Cornell masterfully dismantles the idea that any plant is “evil” or disposable. Here, no plant is demonized—instead, every so-called invasive is revealed as powerful, intelligent, and deeply aligned with the land it now inhabits. This book reclaims them as allies, teachers, and catalysts for transformation.
What truly sets The Tameless Path ablaze is the author’s extensive and meticulous work with Planetary and Astrological correspondences. Each plant is woven into the greater cosmic clock—rooted in Earth yet ruled by stars. You can feel the precision of a Practitioner who knows how Mars burns through thorns, how Saturn fortifies roots, how Venus sweetens leaves, and how lunar tides pull sap and spell alike. This is astrology applied, not theorized.
And make no mistake—this book is practical as hell. Cornell delivers real recipes, hands-on foraging guidance, food uses, medicinal insights, and clever tips and tricks that only come from lived experience. Then, without skipping a beat, he carries you straight into Magickal applications, spellcraft, and Alchemical transformation. Every page asks you not just to read—but to do.
This is the epitome of Green Magick.
Plant Magick.
Alchemy.
A working Witch’s book. A feral herbal Grimoire. A reminder that power grows wild, untamed, and exactly where it’s needed most.
If you walk the Crooked Path, tend living Altars, or feel the pulse of the land beneath your feet—this book belongs in your hands.
May 22, 2024
The Tameless Path by Kamden Cornell shines the light on purposeful plants that many witches consider undesirable.
In Chapter 1, The War on Weeds, Cornell explores how and why many plants became classified as noxious weeds or nuisance plants by the U.S. government, which led to propaganda campaigns by herbicide manufacturers. Although the author does demonstrate some bias, this section includes numerous citations and serves as a great starting point for further research.
Chapters 2 and 3 outline various aspects of plant energetics including alchemy, the elements, planetary magic, zodiac signs, etc.
Chapter 4 provides an excellent general manual to work with herbal and plant preparations such as how to make incense, poultices, tinctures, vinegars, oil infusions, salves, and perfumes. It also includes basic instructions for magical and alchemical preparations.
Chapter 5, which makes up the majority of the book, is a magical materia medica. Each highlighted plant has general and folkloric history, foraging advice, and instructions for culinary recipes, medical applications, and spellwork. The book finishes by calling attention to a few “honor-herbal mention” plants in Chapter 6 with shorter descriptions and less information than what is found in Chapter 5.
While the availability of specific plants mentioned will depend on the reader’s bioregion, The Tameless Path is a great read for any Green Witch looking for ideas on how to to build relationships with the weeds around them.
In Chapter 1, The War on Weeds, Cornell explores how and why many plants became classified as noxious weeds or nuisance plants by the U.S. government, which led to propaganda campaigns by herbicide manufacturers. Although the author does demonstrate some bias, this section includes numerous citations and serves as a great starting point for further research.
Chapters 2 and 3 outline various aspects of plant energetics including alchemy, the elements, planetary magic, zodiac signs, etc.
Chapter 4 provides an excellent general manual to work with herbal and plant preparations such as how to make incense, poultices, tinctures, vinegars, oil infusions, salves, and perfumes. It also includes basic instructions for magical and alchemical preparations.
Chapter 5, which makes up the majority of the book, is a magical materia medica. Each highlighted plant has general and folkloric history, foraging advice, and instructions for culinary recipes, medical applications, and spellwork. The book finishes by calling attention to a few “honor-herbal mention” plants in Chapter 6 with shorter descriptions and less information than what is found in Chapter 5.
While the availability of specific plants mentioned will depend on the reader’s bioregion, The Tameless Path is a great read for any Green Witch looking for ideas on how to to build relationships with the weeds around them.
July 19, 2024
Wow, what a massive amount of (incredibly well-researched) information. The first 50% of this book was about correspondences, so that you can draw your own magical conclusions about certain plants. That did make it feel like a bit of a bait-and-switch, as I was truly in it for the information about how to use invasive plants.
And even though it took awhile to get there, I was NOT disappointed when we did. Each invasive is laid out where it grows, why it's considered a problem, culinary uses for it, and magical uses for it. There's even a sketch of the plant! And although she can't include every single "problem plant" in there, she has a truncated section of the second-most requested invasives. And then several pages are devoted to the bibliography, which you can use for further research as desired.
Overall, I found this informative and useful, though way above my own spiritual practice. Still, I'd rather have more information than I need, than the opposite. I took one star off for it taking 50% of the book to get to the invasive plants, which is ostensibly the focus of this book. A better fix would be to change the title and blurb to clarify that this is a book of resources, which includes invasive plant uses, but also planetary correspondences.
And even though it took awhile to get there, I was NOT disappointed when we did. Each invasive is laid out where it grows, why it's considered a problem, culinary uses for it, and magical uses for it. There's even a sketch of the plant! And although she can't include every single "problem plant" in there, she has a truncated section of the second-most requested invasives. And then several pages are devoted to the bibliography, which you can use for further research as desired.
Overall, I found this informative and useful, though way above my own spiritual practice. Still, I'd rather have more information than I need, than the opposite. I took one star off for it taking 50% of the book to get to the invasive plants, which is ostensibly the focus of this book. A better fix would be to change the title and blurb to clarify that this is a book of resources, which includes invasive plant uses, but also planetary correspondences.
August 7, 2024
Rating: 3 out of 5
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy
This book is nominally about invasive plants and their relationship with witchcraft. It is part introduction to invasive plants, part herbal preparation guide, and part herbarium.
The first part of the book, which deals with the concept of invasive plants, is a bit rough. Invasive species are conflated with non-native species and weeds generally. This part of the book is intended to provide clarity but ends up just muddying the waters. There were also a couple dashes of monoculture criticism and a critique of GMOs, which is all well and good, but just served to make the already muddy waters murkier. I ended up being more confused about invasive species after reading this section.
The above paragraph being said, the herbal preparations section seemed to be on point, and helpful as a refresher. The herbarium knowledge itself was handy, but didn’t introduce much new information. All in all, this book serves as an acceptable introduction to herbalism, with a focus on invasive plants, but I didn’t find it to be exceptional.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy
This book is nominally about invasive plants and their relationship with witchcraft. It is part introduction to invasive plants, part herbal preparation guide, and part herbarium.
The first part of the book, which deals with the concept of invasive plants, is a bit rough. Invasive species are conflated with non-native species and weeds generally. This part of the book is intended to provide clarity but ends up just muddying the waters. There were also a couple dashes of monoculture criticism and a critique of GMOs, which is all well and good, but just served to make the already muddy waters murkier. I ended up being more confused about invasive species after reading this section.
The above paragraph being said, the herbal preparations section seemed to be on point, and helpful as a refresher. The herbarium knowledge itself was handy, but didn’t introduce much new information. All in all, this book serves as an acceptable introduction to herbalism, with a focus on invasive plants, but I didn’t find it to be exceptional.
August 26, 2025
This is the intermediate green witchery book I’ve wanted on a subject I didn’t know I’d love so much.
Don’t fret though, any level of practice can find value. It builds on fundamentals of the craft while still being accessible to all.
The information ranges from teaching you the various ways to prepare the plants to reviewing the zodiac associations of the invasive “weeds” to providing culinary, medicinal, and ritual uses for these new allies.
With a great bibliography to further your studies and appendices with poetry, stories and a reference table, this is a well rounded book.
Don’t fret though, any level of practice can find value. It builds on fundamentals of the craft while still being accessible to all.
The information ranges from teaching you the various ways to prepare the plants to reviewing the zodiac associations of the invasive “weeds” to providing culinary, medicinal, and ritual uses for these new allies.
With a great bibliography to further your studies and appendices with poetry, stories and a reference table, this is a well rounded book.
August 13, 2024
Most people think of green witchcraft, they think of them using plants and herbs that they are familiar with. I really like that, this book took invasive plants into account. Because every thing in nature has a purpose and a place. Why not you can use these plants to further your own practice? If this title even interest you in the least, you will definitely learn something and enjoy.
September 29, 2024
This was a really informative reading for me as I didn't know much about invasive plants and I love it. Also as a beginner in "green witchery", I love the author talked about planets, lunar phases, elements and correspondences. An interesting and well written book in my opinion ❤️🔥🌿
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews