#phytomancy book

There was an outhouse for the cabin I was staying in. But the Matria allowed me to clear it away. I didn’t do the work myself. There was a human man named Drakus who did that, though he allowed me to help. Together, we installed indoor plumbing in the cabin and left a space for me to garden.

According to the book, the land is sacred, land specifically referring to the ground where I was to do my work and grow my plants. Even the slightest weight killed countless beings and severed the lines of energy that would form the web where the power would be drawn. Tread upon enough times, the land would become completely infertile.

“Even ants create trails.” That was the principal warning.

So the beds could only be as wide as I could reach across. I measured the beds to be about 3 feet by twenty. Looking at the ground, I could see what the book meant. Even though this place was lush and green, nothing at all grew in the brown dusty paths created by habitual walking. Not even with the Elder Tree’s power.

I found this book. I think this could help me be a bit more useful around here... * * * * *

Every living thing is part of the Weave -- this we know from old man to child. However, what many do not know is that the vast majority of all life is in the soil. In fact, more creatures live in soil than anywhere else and there, young student, is where you need to start. While you may have dreams of planting trees that have the power to heal the most dire illness, they will remain dreams until you understand the soil. The soil beneath your feet is home to webs of life and soil, rock and water are their mediums. Their interactions have impacts on all the life above it. There are many things we don’t understand and just happen. So it is important that if you find anything unusual you must record it for our research even if you have read about it before.

Monitoring is of the essence. Listen to the land. You cannot grow crops and phytomance them if the very ground beneath your feet is incompatible with what you want to do. You will never be more powerful than the earth. You must bend to its will and stay within its boundaries and work with what it gives you.

The life under the ground can consume lightning from the sky, survive the strongest of the elements, and live far below ground where no eye can ever nor will ever be able to see. The first step before you set out to create this garden will be to respect the land.