• Reviews

    Review: Magic Spells Oracle

    Title: Magic Spells Oracle Author: Judika Illes Publisher: Weiser Books Date: October 6, 2025  Pages: 36 cards and a 128-page guidebook “… [T]he world of magic is open and welcoming to everyone. Magic and magic spells are the birthright of us all. No previous experience is needed to access this primordial force – or to use these cards,” Judika Illes states when introducing her “Magic Spells Oracle.” The deck is a tool; each card is a key to guide readers on their personal journey to discover their own magic powers, navigate life’s situations, and create the life they desire. Judika, perhaps best known as the author of “The Encyclopedia of…

  • Monthly Columns,  Poisonous Plants & Herbs

    Notes from the Apothecary: Clematis

    Clematis is known as a climbing plant that produces glorious, beautiful blooms in summer. In fact, there are so many types of clematis, many of which bloom in spring and some even in early autumn. Some have petite, pretty flowers, while others produce huge discs of colour. Some grow extremely fast, while others are more ponderous, ideal for small pots in limited space. Like humans, clematis plants embody diversity. Let’s take a closer look. The Kitchen Garden If you’re looking for a tasty addition to a practical kitchen garden, veer away from clematis. Every part of this plant is toxic, and you should encourage children and pets to stay away…

  • Reviews

    Oracle Deck Review – The Midnight Sun Oracle: Magical Messages From the Nordic Midsummer by Selena Moon

    Oracle Deck Review The Midnight Sun Oracle Magical Messages From the Nordic Midsummer By Selena Moon Published by Rockpool Publishing 112 Page Guidebook Publication Date: June 4, 2024 I’m really more a fall-and-winter person than a summer person but that doesn’t really matter – this deck takes me back to my youth – when I was a summer person – when I went camping on the beach – living day and night in a bright red string bikini and a white lace throw-over – partying with a giant group of friends – going from sunrise to sunset – dancing around the bonfires we used to make – oh! what a…

  • Reviews

    Tarot Deck Review – The Animystic Tarot by Willow Fay

    Tarot Deck Review The Animystic Tarot By Willow Fay Published by REDFeather 78 Cards & Guide Book Publication Date: November 28, 2024   It’s that time of year again, when we are giving gifts and buying new things for ourselves. If you’re like me, you probably have friends who are as into the Tarot and Oracle decks as I am – my daughter-in-law is a total devotee and I always give her a new deck for Yule – Here’s a new one to add to your list. This deck is beautiful and different. I have never seen cards like these. Based on the concept of “animism” – which is the…

  • Fiction

    Tomorrow

    A box of saltines… a damn box of saltines wedged in between the fridge and the wall—the one place I hadn’t looked yet. The cupboards held cans I can’t open, bread too stale to choke down, and mouse turds. How did I miss this box of crackers? I bend and snake one wiry arm down to grab it. My chest drops at the empty weight of the cardboard before my brain can catch up. No crackers. Of course not. My stomach decides to mock me just then with a growl. It had been two weeks since Dad came home with a few boxes from the food pantry. I always say…

  • Monthly Columns

    Weyland’s Whey, December 24th-January 20th 2026, Birch Moon Column

    The Celtic Tree Calendar, often used by modern Neopagans and Druid practitioners as a way (no pun intended) to connect with nature and olden Celtic spirituality, was inspired by Celtic and Druidic traditions. It’s primarily based on work of the poet Robert Graves, assigning a different tree to each of the thirteen lunar months, based on the Ogham alphabet, which was a medieval script used to write early Irish. Graves used letters of the Ogham to correspond to different trees, which he employed to develop the calendar. Modern pagans often use fixed dates for each of these lunar months instead of the waning and waxing selenic cycle to prevent this…