• Monthly Columns

    Weyland’s Whey, October 19th 2024 Column: The Difference Between Halloween and Samain, Part Two, Conclusion

    For Your Deliberation To me, Samhain focuses on a different type and aspect of death than does Halloween.  It’s more familial than scary.  Samhain is for moving on into what’s next instead of hanging around here on this side of the veil making trouble. Of course, there are exceptions….   Waiting for the Dark The houses in our neighborhood share a big leafy backyard which is crisscrossed by a warren of short bridges and long pathways.  Lots of trees, almost woodsy, it hosts a murder of crows, a dray or two of squirrels and an alarming number of very bold skunks.  We have lights back there, but after twilight it can…

  • Reviews

    Book Review: The Little Book of Wicca. A Beginner’s Guide to Witchcraft (2024) by Kirsten Riddle

    Book Review: The Little Book of Wicca. A Beginner’s Guide to Witchcraft (2024) by Kirsten Riddle Note: This book was originally published in 2014 as The Beginners Guide to Wicca.  This new edition was published May 14th , 2024.  “Kirsten Riddle writes a column on magic for Chat: It’s Fate, and writes regularly for Spirit and Destiny and Kindred Spirit. She is also a columnist for Take a Break: Fate and Fortune as Alison Davies. Kirsten’s books for CICO include Discovering Signs and Symbols and Trickster Magic. She lives in Nottingham, UK.” (Amazon)  For those just beginning to delve into Wicca, Kirsten Riddle’s Little Book of Wicca A Beginner’s Guide…

  • Reviews

    Book Review-Wisdom Weavers: Explore the Ojibwe Language and the Meaning of Dream Catchers by James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw, Illustrated by Marcus Trujillo

    Book Review Wisdom Weavers: Explore the Ojibwe Language and the Meaning of Dream Catchers By James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw, Illustrated by Marcus Trujillo Publisher: becker & mayer! kids 32 page Harcover in Full Color Release Date: September 3rd, 2024 Another kids book that totally blew my mind! Wisdom Weavers is a beautifully illustrated, full-color book for children with an interest in dream catchers and Ojibwe culture. The book is easy to follow along with, giving the wisdom of the Ojibwe Dream Catchers and their lore, while also teaching phonetically and with spelling how to say certain phrases or words in the Ojibwe language. As the Ojibwe are located in the Great Lakes region,…

  • Reviews

    Book Review-Boys Are Witches, Too! by Ted Enik & Shiloh Penfield

    Book Review Boys Are Witches, Too! Words and Drawings by Ted Enik, Color by Shiloh Penfield Publisher: Red Feather Body Mind Spirit 34 page E-Book Release Date: August 28th, 2024 Oh how I wish these books were around when I was a child! This adorable picture book is great for young boys who have an inkling for Witchcraft, but need to learn their ABC’s as well. Boys Are Witches Too goes through the Alphabet, from A-Z, from Apple to Zodiac, helping young boys learn to read, write, and speak, while also revealing fun facts and mysteries about the Craft, allowing the young boy to get in touch with nature, his elders, and…

  • Reviews

    Deck Review-The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Tarot: Headless Horseman Edition by Nick Lawyer

    Deck Review The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Tarot: Headless Horseman Edition By Nick Lawyer Publisher: Red Feather Mind Body Spirit 78 card Tarot deck with a 111 page guidebook, in a beautifully designed hardcover box Release Date: August 28, 2024 Let me start this review off by saying that, when the original edition of this deck was released, I was tempted to purchase it, but never did. In retrospect, I find it amusing that I didn’t, because this is a deck based off of one of my favorite pieces of literature, and the edition I’m reviewing dons the Headless Horseman on its’ cover, my favorite feature of this beloved folk…

  • Reviews

    Book Review-Song of the Dark Man: Father of Witches, Lord of the Crossroads by Darragh Mason

    Book Review Song of the Dark Man: Father of Witches, Lord of the Crossroads By Darragh Mason Publisher: Destiny Books 187 page paperback Release Date: August 6th, 2024 Song of the Dark Man: Father of Witches, Lord of the Crossroads is a book that wasn’t on my radar, but was more than enthused to select for review. As I’ve covered in my monthly column for October 2024, which can be found here, The Dark Man of Witchcraft is a figure not unfamiliar to me, having been a Luciferian, Setian and Satanist in previous years before finding my true path in Paganism, Witchcraft and the Crooked Path. The Dark Man defies all…

  • Monthly Columns

    The Modern Merlin’s Corner-October 2024: The Occult Truths of Baphomet and The Dark Man of Witchcraft

    Before I begin this column entry, I would like to emphasize my appreciation for a book I’m working on for review, Song of the Dark Man: Father of Witches, Lord of the Crossroads by Darragh Mason. It has inspired me to get in touch with certain aspects of myself again, and allowed some powerful inner alchemy to be done. The Dark Man has been a presence in my craft from the onset, and I feel it’s time I add my contribution to the topic, especially as many works on the subject are being published by many well-known and respected publishing houses. Please keep an eye out for my review of Song of the Dark…

  • Monthly Columns

    Vlady and Vampires – How Did We Get Here? Vampire Origins of Slavic and Eastern European Folklore

    If a picture says 1000 words, then I have those words for you, plus a little extra. Plus, it’s been a *bloody* long time since I’ve been able to post anything because I’m busy with school.   But, for your pleasure, here’s what I think of when I see a modern depiction of a vampire strewn about everywhere during October, the month of Halloween & (sometimes –depending on exactly what day you celebrate-) Dziady.  Let’s DIG in Like Grave Robbers  Slavic folklore plays a foundational role in shaping modern depictions of vampires. In these traditions, vampires were called “upir,” or “upyri”  and were feared as undead beings that rose from…

  • Reviews

    Book Review-Night School for Young Mystics: Five Fabulous Field Trips into Moonlight & Magic by Maia Toll, Illustrated by Khoa Le

    Book Review Night School for Young Mystics: Five Fabulous Field Trips into Moonlight & Magic By: Maia Toll, Illustrated by Khoa Le Publisher: Running Press Kids 114 Page E-Book Release Date: August 6th, 2024 Night School for Young Mystics: Five Fabulous Field Trips into Moonlight & Magic by Maia Toll is a wonderful, witchy, and safe children’s book, geared towards pre-teens and teens. Night School for Young Mystics takes the younger reader on guided field trips outside, at night to develop their psychic and magical senses. Toll takes on the alter-ego of Night School’s instructor, Ms. Bea Marlowe, who guides the reader on their field trips. Ms. Bea begins with the basics…