"This book is a fascinating blend of ritual, mystery, science, experience, understanding and compassion that enriches the mind of the reader. [It is] as if the words have literally been infused with the voices of the plant world itself and carefully woven together in a way that celebrates life, love and … guardianship. The formatting is delicate and beautiful, there is a lightness on the pages that translates to the reader a feeling to tread carefully and lightly with the Earth. A fascinating aspect is the inclusion of an individual ‘herb contract’ for … 13 herbs. The idea of this contract, between two living beings, is to use plants with consideration, care (especially if you’re gathering from the wild), choice (local over exotic, common over rare for example), and to use cultivated where appropriate. I challenge you to read this and not come away unchanged." -- Mary Allan, Avena Editor

Isla Burgess is a teacher of Science and Biology and was a Director of the International College of Herbal Medicine (2000-2015) and a Director of the Waikato Centre for Herbal Medicine, Waikato, New Zealand (1990-2000). An experienced herbal medicine practitioner with over 30 years experience she has presented at conferences both in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United States.