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Book Review: Shamanic Oracle
Title: Shamanic Oracle: Connect to the medicine of the earth Author: Luis and Magali Tamani Publisher: Rockpool Publishing Release Date: August 19, 2025 Pages: 36 cards & 144-page guide The “Shamanic Oracle: Connect to the medicine of the earth” is the co-creation of illustrator Luis and author Magali Tamani. The 36 cards are grouped by their elements, nine cards in each of the four families. Roots Protectors ground you and provide guidance, the Wind Arcana brings a mysterious air, Spirit Messengers will awaken your fire, and Wisdom Watchers bring the teachings of water. The cards are 3.54 inches by 5.04 inches – somewhat larger than a typical deck yet still…
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Deck Review — Mood Crystals by Christel Alberez and Nereus North Goldstar
Deck Review — Mood Crystals by Christel Alberez and Nereus North Goldstar Publisher: David & Charles 50 Cards Release Date: 13th September 2022 Thank you to David & Charles for providing this deck for unbiased review. I really enjoy instructional decks — something beyond the standard oracle or divination deck, where each card carries learning and information beyond connecting with your inner self. This deck certainly ticks that box. From the moment you open the box and pull out the guidebook and cards, you can see that each card is not only beautifully presented but rich in useful detail. Let’s start with the guide booklet. There’s a short introduction that…
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Book Review — The Tarot Spreads Yearbook
Book Review — The Tarot Spreads Yearbook Publisher: David & Charles 144 Pages Release Date: 11th April 2023 This beautifully presented book is billed as “52 Tarot Spreads for Getting to Know Yourself.” In our modern, fast-paced life, isn’t that something we’re all trying to do a little more? It’s so easy to get bogged down in our routines, work, and trying to make ends meet that we can lose sight of our inner selves and what nourishes us. With that in mind, I opened this book with an optimistic frame of mind. At first glance, it’s clear that, like the year, this book is split into four seasons: Growth,…
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Notes from the Apothecary: Bistort
Until the end of August, possibly a little beyond depending on the weather, you may find the bristly, bottlebrush-like flowers of bistort growing everywhere from meadows to roadside hedgerows and verges. Although the bistort we have in the UK and that found in the US are slightly different, they’re all part of the same family: Polygonaceae, under the genus Bistorta. Here in the UK, I always think of the flower as little pink or purple cleaning brushes. The North American variant tends to be a bit paler and fluffier looking — I hope I get to see some with my own eyes someday. The Kitchen Garden The Wildlife Trust reports…
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Do You Want to Read for the Public? Tarot with Lady Saoirse
Bright Blessings, My darlings, I have a very serious question for you as you walk your path of being a Tarot reader. Do you want to read for the public? Because not everybody does. Currently I am enjoying the peace of a sabbatical from doing so. As a matter of fact, I’m enjoying this so much, I don’t know when or if I am going to do so again. Why? Because I just don’t know if I want to do it anymore. I spoke with one of my magical brothers this past weekend. He flat out said he won’t do it. I know him to be one hell of…
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A World Re-Enchanted August 2025
In the lore of Arda, the Ainur are the mighty offspring of Eru Ilúvatar’s thought, shaped in the Timeless Halls before the world began. Among them, the greatest who entered the world are the Valar, the Powers who govern and guard the realms of Arda — from Manwë, lord of the winds, to Varda, kindler of the stars. Beside them dwell the Maiar, lesser yet potent spirits who serve and aid their greater kin, moving unseen or walking in fair form among Elves and Men. In the oldest tales, the word fairies was once used for some of these lesser Ainur and the most radiant of the Eldar, beings of…
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Weyland’s Whey, August 2025 Spirit Moon Column
Full Moon The Spirit Moon rises tomorrow, August 9th. Named by the Ojibwe people, indigenous to the Northeastern woodlands and sub artic. It’s associated with Aquarius. A moment of release, perseverance and strength. A powerful time for reclaiming purpose and parts of your self that have been dormant. (Go.com, Wikipedia.) It’s August 8th International Cat Day Mee-yow! MAGAZINE Review The cover story of the August 11th issue of People is about the Prince of Darkness himself, Ozzy Osbourne. ‘Nuff said! “How do you move on? You move on when your heart finally understands that there is no turning back.” –J.R.R. Tolkien No Place Like Home Texting, texting: Namor: Hey,…
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Ham Salad for the Masses
I shut off my music and savor the cooler’s low hum while zipping up my backpack. Vinegar from the last batch of pasta salad lands bitter in each breath. I wipe the prep counter down one last time, so Les will smell the cleaner when he comes in. It’s time for one last look and a mental audit of my task list. Three batches of pasta salad, made. Swiss, provolone, mild cheddar, and jarlsberg, sliced. Black forest ham, honey smoked turkey, buffalo chicken, prepped. Slicers, cleaned. Just in time for Les to come in and make a mess before the early morning rush. I set the timer on the bagel…
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Lughnasadh, Lammas, does it matter?
As this is my first year back as a practicing witch in many years, I wanted to re-learn the Pagan origins and celebrations of Lammas aka Lughnasadh. I keep seeing both names, but ignorant as to why some call it Lammas and some call it Lughnasadh. I was surprised to discover these two names were not always the same festival, however, got combined in the Wiccan community. This doesn’t surprise me given that old European pagan practices were mostly lost to time, due to the absence of written language, records, and the destruction of cultural heritage by the Roman Empire. Therefore, it makes sense that the bits and pieces we’ve…
