Plant MagickRituals, Symbols, and Everyday Practices for Deepening Your Connection with Nature
Explore how plants have shaped human civilization with Jessica Hundley, renowned author of Plant Magick in TASCHEN’s Library of Esoterica.
taught by Jessica Hundley
Module 1From Soil to Sky
We’ll explore the profound connection between humanity and the environment throughout history, delving into how ancient cultures revered nature, the ways plants and animals shaped human survival, and more.
Chapter 1
Chapter 1: The Garden of Eden
Chapter 2
Chapter 2: Brief History of Plants and People
Chapter 3
Chapter 3: The Willow Room
Module 2Return to Eden
Persephone and the pomegranate, Eve and the apple, we’ll dive into the sacred role plants play in global myths, religions, and spiritual practices.
Chapter 1
Chapter 1: Plants as Portals
Chapter 2
Chapter 2: Roots of the Sacred
Chapter 3
The Language of Flowers and Water
Chapter 4
Chapter 4: Petals, Seeds and Myth
Chapter 5
Chapter 5: Sacred Stories, Sacred Plants
Module 3Rites of Passage
Across culture, nature, plants, flowers and trees play an enduring role in life’s most significant transitions - from the fresh blooms symbolizing new beginnings in birth rituals to the sacred herbs used in wedding ceremonies and death rites.
Chapter 1
Chapter 1: The Power of Plants in Life’s Transitions
Chapter 2
Chapter 2: The Natural Elements of Life and Death
Chapter 3
Chapter 3: Plants as Bridges to the Divine
Chapter 4
Chapter 4: Flowers and Bonds
Chapter 5
Chapter 5: The Ritual of Scent
Chapter 6
Chapter 6: Timeless Rites of Nature
Module 4Inner Blossoming
A deep dive into the mystical and healing properties of plants in both spiritual and physical realms, we’ll examine the historical and contemporary use of plants in magickal practices, herbalism, and as consciousness-expanding medicine.
Chapter 1
Chapter 1: The Origins of Psychedelic Wisdom
Chapter 2
Chapter 2: Cannabis Across Time
Chapter 3
Chapter 3: The Magic of Mushrooms
Chapter 4
Chapter 4: Cacti and Spiritual Enlightenment
Chapter 5
Chapter 5: The Healing Powers of Ayahuasca
Module 5Plants as Muse
Nature has long been an inspiration to artists, writers, musicians and creatives of all kinds. We’ll delve into the profound influence of the botanical world on human creativity across cultures and eras.
Chapter 1
Chapter 1: The Eternal Garden
Chapter 2
Chapter 2: Nature’s Words: From Ink to Inspiration
Chapter 3
Chapter 3: From Cave Paintings to Modern Masterpieces
Module 6Pollinating Consciousness
We’ll close the course invitation to listen—softly, deeply—to the wild wisdom of nature. Together, we’ll explore how plants and landscapes offer profound lessons in balance, interconnection, adaptation, and renewal.
Chapter 1
Chapter 1: Embracing the Teachings of the Earth
Chapter 2
Chapter 2: Closing the Circle
Throughout cultures and across time, we have evolved symbiotically with the ecosystems around us. Plant Magick invites you to explore this profound, interdependent relationship between humans and nature. In this immersive journey, we step into the spiritual and symbolic power of herbs, trees, flowers, mushroom and cacti to trace the roots of our societies, cultures and consciousness alongside the deep wisdom of the botanical world.
Find out how our myths, beliefs, and shared stories are continually reflected in nature in this journey guided by Jessica Hundley, the acclaimed author of Plant Magick (TASCHEN), a globally celebrated work that has resonated with thousands of readers around the world. Known for her multi-volume encyclopedia series The Library of Esoterica, richly researched, visually stunning explorations of esoteric and spiritual culture, Hundley brings a rare depth of knowledge, poetic insight, and reverence for the natural world.
In this course we’ll journey through the ancient histories of plants and people, delving into the profound significance of nature in both religious and mythological traditions and in the spiritual and philosophical narratives of human civilization. We’ll explore the ash tree as a cosmic axis in Norse myth, the lotus as a symbol of resurrection in Egyptian lore, and the role of sacred groves in ancient rites.
You’ll study the ways in which the natural world has been imbued with symbolic meaning, representing transitions, growth, and renewal, and how the cyclicality of plants and flowers mirror our own human experiences.
But this is more than a study—it’s a path towards transformative experiences. We’ll explore the ways fungi have been common across magical practices across cultures, celebrating their roles as sacred agents of transformation. From psychoactive plants in shamanic rituals, the ceremonial use of frankincense and myrrh, or the use of flowers in our ceremonies of love.
Finally, the course culminates in a reclamation of nature as muse. You’ll be invited to work with plants not just as symbols, but as collaborators in your artistic, professional, and emotional life. Whether your medium is a garden, the kitchen, a painting, a poem, or a business project, this is an invitation to co-create with the living world around you.
- 6 modules of pre-recorded lessons
- Additional readings and resources
- Live conversations with the teacher
- Community discussion
- Transcriptions
- Explore the historical relationship between humans and the environment.
- Understand how ancient cultures revered nature and how it shaped cultural and spiritual practices.
- Discover the sacred symbolism of plants across global myths and religions.
- Learn about plants' historical and modern use in healing and transformation.
- Discover how plants have inspired artistic expression across cultures and time periods.
- Explore nature as a mirror of consciousness and a source of spiritual insight.
- Learn lessons from the intelligence of ecosystems, fungi, and plant cycles.
- Engage with indigenous wisdom, myth, and science to deepen ecological understanding.
- Reflect on the metaphors of growth, decay, and resilience found in the natural world.
- Cultivate a poetic, mindful relationship with the Earth as a guide and mentor.