Reviews

Book Review – The Witch’s Yearbook: Spells, Stones, Tools, and Rituals for a Year of Modern Magic by Clare Gogerty

Book Review

The Witch’s Yearbook:
Spells, Stones, Tools, and Rituals
for a Year of Modern Magic

By Clare Gogerty

Publisher: David & Charles

128 pages

Publication Date: August 10, 2021

 

 

 

 

Clare Gogerty, a seasoned practitioner of the craft, gives a year’s worth of ideas and wisdom for celebrating the sabbats that makes for a helpful
resource for beginners.

Chapters begin with an introduction to the festival, a topic of interest (trees for Mabon, the moon at Yule, magical creatures for Ostara), botanical and crystal correspondences, holiday traditions and customs, rituals and spells, and a witchy craft (apple wand, incense, Brigid’s cross).

On the Samhain pages, for instance, there is an introduction to divination and details about scrying. The plants are those that increase psychic powers and crystals are chosen to enhance spirit communication. Jack-o-lanterns and apple dunking are the traditions listed, and there’s a simple spell “to make change happen.” There’s a page describing how to hold a dumb supper for the ritual, and the craft is making a spell jar with intentions for the new year.

The seven other holidays are treated in similar fashion.

The first chapter touches on the Wheel of the Year and two sentences
about each sabbat. How to work with the four elements, some witchs’ tools, working with herbs, choosing crystals, and the ethics and steps of casting a spell to manifest desires are also introduced. Tips, nuggets of wisdom, information, and illustrations are scattered throughout.

I recommend the book to those new on a pagan path or those now wishing to add celebrating the festivals to their practice. Crones are likely to be reminded of a thing or two. Although the book begins with Samhain, after reading the first chapter, you can begin your trip through a magical year starting with any holiday.

About the Author

Clare Gogerty is a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, and has been interested in magick, druidry and folklore since a child, encouraged by her father, an enthusiastic dowser and leyline hunter. A former magazine editor, she is the author of “Beyond the Footpath: mindful adventures for modern pilgrims” (Piatkus) and “Sacred Places: where to find wonder in the world” (Aster).

 

 

The Witch’s Yearbook on Amazon

 

**

About the Author:

Lynn Woike

All my life I have known magic was real. As a child, I played with the fae, established relationships with trees and “just knew things.” In my maiden years I discovered witchcraft and dabbled in the black-candles-and-cemeteries-at-midnight-on-a-fullmoon magick just enough to realize I did not understand its power. I went on to explore many practices including Zen, astrology, color therapy, native traditions, tarot, herbs, candle magic, gems, and, as I moved into my mother years, Buddhism, the Kabbalah and Reiki. The first man I dated after my divorce was a witch who reintroduced me to the Craft, this time by way of the Goddess. For 11 years I was in a coven, but with retirement, I have returned to an eclectic solitary practice.

 

 

When accepting the mantle of crone, I pledged to serve and teach. This is what I do from my skoolie – a 30-year-old school bus converted into a tiny house on wheels that I am driving around the country, following 72-degree weather, emerging myself into nature, and sharing magic with those I meet. Find me at thewitchonwheels.com, Facebook and Instagram.

 

thewitchonwheels.com