Reviewed by Katrina Rasbold

As part of the prolific series from Moon Books called Pagan Portals, this book is scheduled for release in early August in the United States.

Its focus of this book is on the “Nine Herbs Charm”—a powerful Old English healing spell, rooted in a 10th-century Galdr poem—and it deftly and unpacks the lore around the nine plants it features.

Each of the nine plants is examined across multiple dimensions including:

• Anglo-Saxon and Norse historical records
• Archaeological and folklore insights
• Mythic and deity connections
• Medicinal and contemporary herbal usage

The book includes a lovely, extensive forward by mystic and occultist, Shani Oates, providing deeper historical context and clarifying ambiguous or lost charm phrases.

Gray comes across as authoritative, yet accessible in her writing and aptly balances scholarly rigor with clear, engaging prose. The depth of her training shows through the author’s detailed, knowledgeable exploration of both magical and medicinal aspects of the herbs. She even offers gardening tips and recipes using the nine herbs.

By blending information on the botanical properties of each herb, the folklore, magic, and cookbook-style recipes, Gray brings each plant to life. Tied to archaeological and mythological sources, the historical consciousness of the material is a prominent feature of the book. This provides authenticity and a rich narrative that is a joy to read.

Nine’s a Charm is a nicely textured, multi-layered exploration of the Nine Herbs Charm through the lenses of botany, folklore, magic, and history. Ideal for readers interested in herbalism, Anglo-Saxon culture, and folk magic, it’s a fine addition to any Pagan, herbalist, or historical spirituality collection.

Pagan Portals – Nine’s a Charm by Martha Gray

Nine’s a Charm explores the world of the extraordinary properties of plants that are believed to be ingredients for the Galdr Healing Charm. Even today, their influence extends beyond culinary use and into the world of magic and medicine, a world the ancient peoples of the past knew much better than ourselves. While modern medicine is only beginning to unlock their medicinal value, some still perform practices intuitively connected to their mystical, magical properties. While this book concentrates on the value of the herbs themselves, Shani Oats’s scholarly introduction to the historical origins and practices of the charm itself will give a more rounded view of a work that still fascinates scholars today – mostly due to the inability to accurately translate the whole text, where words and phrases are lost to the past or disguised for those who are uninitiated in the magical healing arts.

Learn more and grab your copy here: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/moon-books/our-books/pagan-portals-nines-charm

For more details: https://katrinarasbold.com/