Plant Communication

Presenting a practical guide to the sacred herbs and trees of Samhain, Ellen Evert Hopman details the identification, harvest, and use of more than 70 plants and trees in healing, divination, purification, magic, and as tools for contacting the Spirits wandering the landscape at this liminal time of year. She explores the most effective plants for protection from the mischief of the "Good Neighbors", the Sidhe or Fairies, as well as herbs for releasing the Dead when they are trapped on this plane.

In the midst of ongoing news about Southwestern water scarcity, Martha Retallick sees an opportunity. For 20 years, she has been transforming her central Tucson home into an urban oasis. The secret to her success: Water harvesting. Since Retallick purchased her central Tucson home in 2004, she has incorporated two types of water harvesting – passive and active – into her landscape. Passive water harvesting is simply the act of sculpting the landscape to direct the water to where it should be – like plants – and away from where it shouldn’t be – like a home’s foundation.

Studies show that people who are good with words and can read other people’s emotions, needs, and vulnerabilities are more likely to get things done their way and live the life they’ve always wanted. That’s because those people have worked on their abilities to persuade and psychologically manipulate people around them with the most powerful mind-controlling techniques.