ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I want to express my deepest gratitude to Ajana, graphic artist and illustrator, for gracing this book with your wonderfully creative imagination and extraordinary talent. Your aesthetic spirit, wit, and creative excellence generously conveyed by the illustrations lying within these pages openly re􀀫ect a uniquely brilliant consciousness I 􀀭nd intrinsic to your generation.… Speaking of which, I sincerely thank you too, James Snow, for your regard and friendship. Your clever mind and discerning herbalist’s eye have enhanced this herbal and spared me litters of technical chagrin. I also wish to extend my gratitude to Dave Broach for your good-natured willingness to manifest the cover photo with your patience, your Hasselblad, and the singular touch of your light, and shutter skills. And while I’m on this roll, thank you Elaine Gill and skilled sta􀀴 members of The Crossing Press. Your support, your 􀀫uid spirit of co-creating, and your con􀀭dence in my work as an herbalist and writer leave little wonder in my mind why your catalogs repertoire of publications is bursting with the works of so many excellent authors. This is not to say that we didn’t have to get down and dirty while tussling with a few di􀀴erences of opinion, the aftermath of which found a number of Ajana’s most splendid illustrations adorning the cutting room 􀀫oor, alas never to be seen by the reader’s eyes; and that is the tragic component of this story. However, the ending is of course a happy one, for all who enjoy entering aesthetic realms of exquisite fantasy can visit Ajana’s captivating Web site at and experience the beautiful sanctums of her talent and creative vision. Please note, dear reader, this is not one of those commonplace commercial plugs; this is a dad’s fervent praise of his daughter’s superb talent and fascinating mind … big di􀀴erence, big, big di􀀴erence. Go check it out … you’ll come back delighted. For Bre and Ajana, my gifted daughters and artful companions We dance our madness; we dance our joy. Oh precious ones, the fun has just begun. Wild music is in the air; there’s beauty flowing everywhere.




Designed by Macrovector