The language of flowers has been recognized for centuries in many countries throughout Europe and Asia. They even play a large role in William Shakespeare’s works. Mythologies, folklore, sonnets, and plays of the ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and Chinese are peppered with flower and plant symbolism -- and for good reason.
Growing up in her families' garden, Anastasia Mostacci found not only a deep connection with her ancestors, but also learned of the world and how to move through it. In Flower Magic, she transforms her wisdom into knowledge we can all share.
Divided into six "Gardens" of ten plants each, the reader is encouraged to explore the natural world and make their own connections with it.
We begin with the Garden of the Psychic, flowers that influence the psyche and dreams, facilitating shamanic journeys and connections with the spirit worlds.
Garden of the Heart explores flowers that work on emotional expansion, healing, relationships, and self-love.
Garden of the Sun offers us flowers that ignite the inner sun, fostering personal growth and evolution of the soul.
Garden of the Inner Child gives us a place to wander among flowers for new beginnings, offering freshness, blessings, and connections to the inner child.
In the Garden of the Wind we find flowers that promote clarity, cleansing, purification, and the ability to let go.
And finally in the Garden of the Senses we find flowers linked with magic that influences the material world: abundance, physical health, and aphrodisiacs.
My one criticism is that although we are given information for each plant, we are not given any guidance as to how to use the plant. That is, presumably, left up to our intuition and will come from our personal relationship to the plant itself. As someone who has no access to many of these plants in living form, I am left with questions about how I can make more than a theoretical connection.
In closing, let me positively *gush* about how this is a gorgeous book! From its linen-textured cover to the elegant, full-color, illustrations Flower Magic is a delight to explore.
~review by Lisa McSherry
Author: Anastasia Mostacci
Artist: Giada Ungredda
Red Wheel, 2025
pp. 160, $18.95 hardcover
