-
Book Review-The Sword of Song, Called by the Christians The Book of the Beast by Aleister Crowley, edited and annotated by Richard Kaczynski
Book Review The Sword of Song, Called by the Christians The Book of the Beast By Aleister Crowley, edited & annotated by Richard Kaczynski Publisher: Inner Traditions 407 Page E-Book Release Date: April 8th, 2025 I am so excited to present this particular book review to you. I often don’t announce it, not out of shame, but rather because his influence is so immense in my magickal and spiritual, even philosophical beliefs and practices, that I often neglect to recognize just where those views came from. To clear up any confusion, as I myself am feeling rather Crowley-esque today, I am a huge fan of Aleister Crowley’s work, in all of its contexts. I’ve heard…
-
Review: Wise Woman Oracle
Title: “Wise Woman Oracle: Reconnect with She Who Knows” Author: Cheyenne Zárate Publisher: Rockpool Publishing Release Date: November 5, 2024 Pages: 128-page booklet and cards In the wild woman chapter of her life, Cheyenne Zárate shared the untamed, instinctual, and independent archetypes in her deck “Wild Woman Oracle: Awaken your true, free and soulful self.” Now in another stage of life, she finds herself identifying with the wise woman, and shares thirty-six of their traits in the “Wise Woman Oracle: Reconnect with She Who Knows.” Each card portrays a woman from pop culture, history, folktales, or myths across diverse cultures. Although a wise woman is typically thought of as a…
-
Spring, Beltane, and the Magick of Renewal: A Special Column from The Modern Merlin
Hello friends, and welcome to May! Happy May Day, and Merry Beltane/Bealtaine! After a short hiatus, I’m back, and will slowly be picking up the pace in my writing so as to not burn myself out. How often I’ll be posting this month is TBD, if I’m being honest, but I’m excited to be back! That aside, I’m excited to be sharing with you a unique perspective I’ve come to regarding Beltane. Beltane is, and always was, a fertility festival; there’s an energy of renewal in the air, and love, too. Culminating with the Solstice at Midsommer, this season is truly about life renewed, as the bees and various critters…
-
A World Re-Enchanted April 2025
The flowers of spring are now in full bloom as the days grow longer and the weather warmer. The winter season has passed as spring continues assert its influence and time upon the world of Arda. Spring is a time of great change and as the vitality of the world grows again, the world is ready for prosperity and change. The month of April focuses on Youth which is viewed differently among the races of Arda. For example, the Hobbits can be described as being carefree and innocent focused on the simple pleasures of the shire. The Hobbits are not considered adults until 33 years old. As a result…
-
April 8th, 2024
I wrote this last year right after the solar eclipse. I figured it was worth sharing since this month it had been a year. Enjoy! … I drag myself out of bed after only a few hours of sleep. I’m a nocturnal creature who has found her home on third shift. I leave the house in my galaxy pajama pants and “I love horror movies,” t-shirt, with my curly green hair floating around my head like seaweed. So many people asked me if I would get up to watch the Eclipse. I asked myself who would sleep through it?The roads are abnormally quiet for the middle of the day,…
-
An Offering For The Tall One
The feather looked out of place in a pothole behind Fastway—black, but blue under the right light. It fell from the tail of a black bird that caws. Ignoring the moisture on my feet, I take its stem between my teeth. I look around, make sure its owner isn’t coming back for it, and sprint back toward the lair. I am still small enough to fit under the chain link fence behind the store. Under parked cars, between houses, through tall grass, past barking dogs, and a stinky creature with a white stripe—I run without slowing down. There’s no time to stop and chat. I need to take my…
-
Review: Held by the Land Deck
Title: “Held By The Land Deck: 45 Ways to Use Indigenous Plants for Healing and Nourishment” Author: Leigh Joseph Publisher: Wellfleet Press Release Date: April 9, 2024 Pages: 48-page Guidebook and 45 Cards This guidebook and cards by Leigh Joseph, an ethnobotanist from the Squamish Nation in Vancouver, marry the growing need and respect for indigenous wisdom with the growing desire to use gifts offered by nature. Noting the diversity of plant knowledge and practices among Indigenous Peoples, she chose to approach these profiles only through the lens of Squamish woman. Each card represents a tree, shrub, flowering herb, or plant grown in Squamish Territory – or that has been…
-
Book Review-Lost Book of Spells by Fiona Horne
Book Review Lost Book of Spells By Fiona Horne Publisher: Rockpool Publishing 240 Page Hardcover Release Date: March 4th, 2025 Lost Book of Spells is a beautifully designed and illustrated spell-book that covers magical tips and simple spells and rituals for every facet of life-love, money, home, well-being and so much more! From tea recipes, ritual baths, candle spells and any other kind of spell you could think of, this book is jam-packed with practical, easily done spells that’s perfect for the beginner and advanced magickian or witch alike. Horne is one of those witches that just knows her stuff, and is kinda old-school like me. Her style and approach to…
-
Book Review: The Time Changer’s Tarot
Title: “The Time Changer’s Tarot: Reading for Yourself, Your Community, and Your World with the Waite-Smith Tarot” (Product Bundle) Author: Caitlin Matthews Publisher: REDFeather Release Date: October 28, 2023 Pages: 360-Page Guidebook and Travel-Size Tarot Deck To negotiate the chaos, uncertainty, and changes of the time in which we live, Caitlin Matthews developed a new approach to an old system by offering a wider perspective and helpful strategies when reading tarot cards for the individual and their world. Each entry has a color picture of the card, a description of the image, three meanings on which to focus, and a paragraph of background. Then come the upright and reversed…
-
Cody’s Column: Using Divination Tools with the Land
April is such a bouquet of emotions, thoughts and experiences here on the farm. Big projects we laid out in the winter are being realized. New projects are coming to light. The forest is waking up and so are the weeds! Many of them are medicinal, I am thinking about the hedge deadnettle, which should be called Purple Dragon’s Breath. This plant wakes up around the time bumble bee queens rise from their slumber and begin the search for a mate and early food to support her soon to be colony. There are so many signs of Spring, it is a wonder to me how many times we miss…
