Wildcraft Medicine In the Presence of Wonder
A Practical Guide to the Medicinal Gifts of the Earth, and its Traditional Lore
by Sheila Anne Wray

---

"...to build a solid foundation for understanding wild medicine and its practical use in our daily life, we must begin at the source. We must recognize the role ecology plays in the lives of these plants. The medicine is more than the plant itself, it is the ecosystem that supports it, and the delicate interweaving of connections that make up the natural world. For nature does nothing without purpose." And thus begins the story of wildcraft medicine. Wildcraft medicine, as laid out in the pages of this book, are more than a catalogue of medicinal plants, natural cures and remedies. Wildcraft Medicine In the Presence of Wonder is a very personal exploration of the interrelationship between North American Indigenous plants and their ecosystem. The author’s life long dedication and passion for the subject can be felt through her personal stories of working with the plants and her intimate understanding of their medicinal properties, specifically toward first aid and pain management. Written using the traditional storytelling style for passing on knowledge the author incorporates anecdotal stories of time spent with the plants, Indigenous teachings, poems, quotes and pictures to bring life to the written page and enhance the reader’s understanding of the subject matter. The book delves deep into the ethnobotany of Canada’s northern rain forest and Boreal forest regions. Included in the book are over 40 medicinal plant profiles and 25 recipes and remedies with practical advise on their application and usage. Beyond the medicinal properties and home remedies laid out in this book, the author highlights the importance of Indigenous teachings and traditional Earth stewardship, environmental concerns and ecological responsibility. Wildcraft Medicine In the Presence of Wonder is a love story!

---

Sheila Anne Wray is a mother and grandmother, a teacher, author, folk herbalist and keeper of medicinal plant knowledge. Of Celtic/Scottish ancestry, Sheila was born and raised on British Columbia's west coast and trained traditionally in the Indigenous medicine of the pacific Northwest. Guided from a young age with a passion for the healing plants Sheila has spent her life harvesting, working with and learning from the plants on the traditional territory of the Tla'amin, Quw'utsun, Stz-uminus, Shishalh Nations. Sheila pays tribute to her teachers through her work with plant medicine, recording the old knowledge, teaching workshops and guided forest walks. She now lives with her family in Halfmoon Bay on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia.

---

Contributors

Author

Sheila Anne Wray

Illustrator

Tracy Walding