Book Review

Seasons of Moon and Flame

The Wild Dreamer’s Epic Journey of Becoming

by Danielle Dulsky

376 Pages

 

 

….There is much to be said for self-discipline, for keeping our promises to ourselves, for harboring a deep knowing that any new way of being in the world is going to come with moments of intermittent discomfort that must be welcomed as small rituals of growth and learning. ^1.

Seasons of Moon and Flame: The Wild Dreamer’s Epic Journey of Becoming by Danielle Dulsky is the second of this author’s books that I’ve had the pleasure to read and review. Her style and message is one of empowerment and reclaiming what we as Witches already know at our deepest core, but often fail to honor and bring to the forefront. The message is one of standing in the primal and natural state of being that moves energy in an organic and resonant way with the inherent wild nature of the world surrounding. In this particular title, the message is from the Hag, the teacher of the deep wisdom and the purveyor of treasures only to be found in “doing the work”.

Now, in the midst of COVID-19 and the uncertainty and lack of power that many fear, another of Danielle’s books has made its way to my door and into my life. Seasons of Moon and Flame; the Wild Dreamer’s Epic Journey of Becoming gave me pause to reassess much of what I have taken for granted as part of my nature and the pressures of moving at lightning speed. The back cover speaks to what lay inside the pages of this book….

…The yearning to slow down and simplify, return to earth, and maybe even “rewild” what has been tamed within ourselves persists even though that dream may seem more remote in contemporary life… ^2.

Seasons of Moon and Flame; the Wild Dreamer’s Epic Journey of Becoming moves through a year’s cycle of work to reclaim the beauty and wild force of the Witch, the Hag, the Crone, the Grandmother – all of these names and many more. We dive right into the work of re-wilding from the get-go in the aptly titled, House of Initiation-The Beginning and the End. Here, we are guided in visualization to meet the Four Hags and their domains of the seasons. This is the beginning of a pact with ourselves to honor and excavate the Hag within and to enter each of these portal’s in perfect love and perfect trust.

…Take a breath, hum so loudly that your teeth rattle, then whisper: “It begins.”…^3.

The simple beginnings of this directive set the tone for what follows and the tools to begin this journey from where you are in the moment is offered as reminder that this is work of the most sacred kind and as such you are an integral part of its crafting.

From this House of Initiation you are given choice of which of the Hags you will begin your work with. Each chapter is lovingly dedicated to one of the Four Hags and contains stories, ritual, alignment with the season and cycles of the moons. Danielle includes as focal points within each chapter sections dedicated to “Grandmother Speaks” reminding you that the oral tradition of telling within families and most in particular that of the eldest and wise woman was traditionally the “wild” way of learning, experiencing and growing into your power. The responsibility then being that of passing it down when you too became the Hag-Wise One.

As the reader moves through Seasons of Moon and Flame; the Wild Dreamer’s Epic Journey of Becoming, the seasons take on new meaning and the wisdom of each of each of the Hags takes on deeper meaning and connection.

… This season of Tender Roots, greet you as the Garden Hag (of Spring) does, with childlike curiosity…..Her face is lined. Her hair is gray, but her heart beats in the rhythm of the innocent erotic…^4.

…The Desert Hag (of Summer) urges us to peel back the tougher skin from our own hearts, to lay bare the desires we might hide beneath the colder moons. Hers is not a Craft of secret keeping and mystery work. Hers is a Craft of open-armed sharing and communal work….^5.

… The Sea Hag (of Autumn) lives on the edge of the world, grandmother to the selkies and lover to spirits only she can see. Her lessons are those of feeling into the wild ache of not knowing, of sitting in the mist without deciding too quickly which direction is the right one and her poetry drips with rain and brine…^6.

… The Mountain Hag (of Winter)..The northern wind sets our house creaking and our bones cracking, and we look in that sacred direction of hard truths and cold ground. Those endless nights before the winter solstice send us searching for her, that cunning hag who lives alone in the mountains, who seems to hold the deepest and most ancient wisdom this world has ever known…^7.

Each of these seasons (chapters) is ripe and bursting with the sweetness of becoming and the bitterness of reaping from each in accord with only how fully you choose to embrace the experience and the lessons contained. There is much to see, learn and do and a quick read through does not do justice to what can be gained from putting in the time.

Would I Recommend It?

Seasons of Moon and Flame; the Wild Dreamer’s Epic Journey of Becoming by Danielle Dulsky is not an easy book to review using words written because the core of its message and work offered is highly experiential and intimately personal. This is a book that will never be read, nor understood in the same way by each reader; and I would even say that regardless of how many times an individual may read and go about the work, it will always be a new and entirely unpredictable journey. This is the sign of a truly exceptional piece of word witchery and Danielle has that capacity.

It is for that reason that I have not gone into great depth of which chapters I was drawn to or to the particulars of specific ones. Seasons of the Moon and Flame is a year long work that requires moving through your seasons, invoking the Hag’s energy and blessing and then allowing all to settle and synthesize within. I will say, however, that I especially appreciate the sections of Grandmother Speaks. They are written in a way that draws you into the experience and engages you much like a child sitting at the knee of a beloved grandmother eager to learn and to try on the experience.

About the Author Danielle Dulsky:

Danielle Dulsky is a heathen visionary, Aquarian mischief maker, and founder of the Hag School. Author of The Holy Wild and Woman Most Wild, Danielle teaches internationally and has facilitated embodiment trainings, wild circles, communal spellwork, and seasonal rituals since 2007.

Footnotes:

1. p. 7
2. Back Cover
3. p. 15
4. p.30
5. p. 91
6. p. 155
7. p.227

 

Seasons of Moon and Flame: The Wild Dreamer’s Epic Journey of Becoming on Amazon

 

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About the Author:

Robin Fennelly is a Third Degree Initiate within The Assembly of the Sacred Wheel Tradition and serves as High Priestess of Coven of the Mystic Path, the 12th Coven within the Assembly of the Sacred Wheel Tradition. She teaches and facilitates classes for the Pagan Experience Study Group that serves as foundation for membership within Coven of the Mystic Path.  

Her spiritual journey is strongly rooted in both Eastern philosophy and the Western Magickal systems from which she has formed a core foundation that is diverse in knowledge and rich in spiritual practice.  A life-long learner, her practice has evolved from the classical and philosophical teachings of books, practical experience and enrichment of this knowledge base by attending workshops of various spiritual traditions presented by master teachers.

Robin formally came to the Wiccan path in 1994. Following practice as a solitary for 2 years, she dedicated to Oak and Willow Coven of The Assembly of the Sacred Wheel Tradition in November of 1996. She received her 1st, 2nd and finally 3rd degrees within the Assembly Tradition and has served as High Priestess of Oak and Willow since Samhain of 2001.

As a teacher of esoteric and magickal studies she has used Energetic Anatomy, Tarot, Astrology, Hermetic Qabala, Eastern Philosophy, and Numerology as the foundations of her diverse selection of workshops and writings for more than 25 years. Exploration of varied energetic protocol has been the focus of her work for some time now and the information gained through direct experience informs all of her magickal and spiritual work.

Robin’s writings have been featured online, and in print Internationally.  She has authored several books incorporating her unique style of writing making use of poetry, prose and pathworking to enhance the concepts presented.  She has taught extensively throughout the Pagan community, including Sacred Space Conference, Spring Magick, Between the Worlds Interfaith Conference and Free Spirit Gathering Festival this Summer. Her most recent project is hosting an online blogging community entitled The Pagan Experience.

Robin is the owner of Holistic Embrace providing services for mind, body and spirit such as Tarot readings, Astrology reports, Spiritual Guidance and other related offerings.  She lives in Eastern Pennsylvania and her life is blessed by a 40+- year marriage, five children and the opportunity to work in the field of public education.

Robin’s Books

The Inner Chamber, Vol. 1 It’s Written in the Stars-Astrology

The Inner Chamber, Vol. 2 Poetry of the Spheres-Qabalah

The Inner Chamber, Vol. 3 Awakening the Paths-Qabalah

The Light of SELF: Consciousness, Spiritual Practice and Learning to Breathe

Magickal Verse: A Collection of Poetry and Prose

A Year of Gaia: The Eternal Cord

The Elemental Year: Aligning the Elements of SELF

Temple of the Sun and Moon: Luminous Devotions

Sleeping with the Goddess: Nights of Devotion

A Weekly Reflection: Musings for the Year

The Magickal Pen: A Collection of Esoteric Writings

The Enchanted Gate: Musings on the Magick of the Natural World

For more info: http://www.robinfennelly.com/books.html

Robin’s Website: www.robinfennelly.com

Coven of the Mystic Path, ASW: www.covenofthemysticpath.org