Corinne Boyer

Corinne Boyer

Lecture & Workshop Host

LECTURE: Plants of the Devil 

There are certain plants and trees that have long been known to hold diabolical powers and harbor demons. This encompasses a dark branch of plant lore often overlooked or misunderstood. This lecture will shed light on the reasons why certain plants and trees were demonized and also how they were utilized by wise and common folk for magical purposes in Northern Europe.

The belief that evil beings were attracted to such plants and trees will also be addressed, looking at the historical understanding of plant spirits through a detailed lens based on an enchanted worldview. This is an important distinction to make when addressing this folklore and working with these plants and spirits. In this wise, plant spirits cannot be grouped into a common single category, but rather individual plants and trees must be understood as being the abode of evil supernatural or human spirits. Many of these plants and trees belonged to the Wild Adversary or the Devil in the tales of old, and this infernal agency is embedded in the traditions bestowed upon such flora. The tales, the spirits and the traditions all speak to those with ears to hear.

WORKSHOP: Painful and Baneful Charms
3 HOUR INTENSIVE– space is limited to 20 participants

In this workshop, we will learn about historical charms that utilized painful or baneful plants. The examples will include uses in different applications of folk magic, often with additional animal or mineral ingredients. While some charms are simple and others are complex, the methods and details will be elaborated on and given context in order to further understand them. There will be a small plant charm display in order to see how the charms looked when made in the prescribed manner. We will also make a traditional charm with some of these ingredients and learn how to apply it. Inspiration will be given to facilitate a hands on approach and people will leave with a better understanding in applying spiny, prickly or poisonous plants in charms and amulets.

$65 workshop add on fee
$10 materials fee

BIO: Corinne Boyer is a folk herbalist, teacher, and writer with a passion for traditions surrounding plants and folk magic. She has been studying and working with plants since 1998. Corinne teaches weekly classes out of her home with a focus on medicine making and the plant traditions of northern and western Europe and North America. She has been published in various journals with articles about plant lore, history and occult plant uses. Her books include Under the Witching Tree and Under the Bramble Arch published by Troy Books and Plants of the Devil, Dream Divination Plants in Northwestern European Traditions and The Witches Cabinet- Plant Lore, Sorcery and Folk Tradition, published by Three Hands Press. She lives with her family in the forests of the Pacific Northwest.

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