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Book Review-Keywords for Astrology: The Essential Guide by Hajo Banzhaf & Anna Haebler
Keywords for Astrology: The Essential Guide by Hajo Banzhaf & Anna Haebler is a 280 page paperback, published by Weiser Books. Keywords for Astrology lives up to its title, as this is an essential guide for the beginning as well as more seasoned Astrologer. The books covers everything one needs to read and interpret a birth chart, from the planets, angles (ascending, descending, IC and MC), houses, signs, and aspects, even giving phrase building ideas to help express the energy of that placement/aspect, etc. Shadow and light sides of placements and aspects are each given their due, giving a complete view of the birth chart being interpreted, as well as ways to develop…
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Book Review-The Easy Way to Learn Astrology: How to Read Your Birth Chart by Alison Chester-Lamber, MA
The Easy Way to Learn Astrology: How to Read Your Birth Chart by Alison Chester-Lamber, MA, published by Findhorn Press, an imprint of Inner Traditions Publishing, is a book spanning 175 pages total, of which I received a paperback copy. Chester-Lambert attempts to instruct those who are new to Astrology to read birth charts using what she has dubbed “Psychological Astrology”, an interesting approach for sure. Chester-Lambert discusses the basics of Western Astrology, including the elements, polarities, modalities, as well as giving each sign its’ own multiple-page section to discuss characteristics of each sign. Chester-Lambert then covers the houses of the Zodiac wheel, their elements, and areas of life they…
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Book Review-People of the Outside: Witchcraft, Cannibalism, and the Elder Folk
People of the Outside: Witchcraft, Cannibalism, and the Elder Folk by Lee Morgan, published by Moon Books, is a 206 page book, of which I received an e-book copy. People of the Outside deals with subjects that seem, and in modern sensibilities, are, morbid, and disarming. Throughout the book, Morgan weaves different threads of taboo’s that have existed throughout Sapien society, backing up their theories with scientific evidence using DNA, and historical accounts. Morbid subjects like cannibalism, the profane kiss, and persecutions of countless groups of people deemed by Morgan to be “People of the Outside”, such as cathars, accused witches, and other groups, tying them to the modern notion and pop-culture view…
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Book Review-Occult Germany: Old Gods, Mystics and Magicians by Christopher McIntosh
Occult Germany: Old Gods, Mystics and Magicians by Christopher McIntosh, published by Inner Traditions Publishing is a 241 page paperback detailing the mystical and occult in Germany. McIntosh explores Germany’s ancient pagan roots, and thoroughly hops around different subjects chapter-to-chapter. The book isn’t in chronological order, but instead each chapter contains a subject that goes through different eras of Deutschland’s history. Germany has a long history of mysticism and the occult, with famous Occultists and Alchemists hailing from Germanic lands, such as Paracelsus, Agrippa, and others. McIntosh delicately discusses the Nazi regime’s impact on the occult in Germany, and also their appropriation and misuse of Germanic and Nordic pagan beliefs, practices…
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Cat Magick Weekly Planner By: Rieka Moonsong
This hardcover book is sturdy and handsome with a silvery elastic to keep it closed and a built in, deep blue, satin ribbon bookmark to indicate where you left off. 18 full-month calendar spreads with no set dates…you you can use it immediately and don’t have wasted space and sheets from past dates. There is plenty of space to write and it it is conveniently sized for carrying in a book bag, briefcase, or purse. The illustrations are a pure delight for any cat lover and the lore and spellwork are well researched and no nonsense. I especially liked the in-depth descriptions of feline energy, elements, planetary companions, and folklore.…
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Book Review: Celtic Druidry by Ellen Evert Hopman
Celtic Druidry: Rituals, Techniques, & Magical Practices by Ellen Evert Hopman, published by Destiny Books, an imprint of Inner Traditions publishing, runs a grand total of 242 pages. Celtic Druidry starts off by explaining exactly what a Druid is, and isn’t, then goes on to cover what we know historically about Druids, which is of course, scarce and biased against them, coming from Greek and Roman historians attempting to paint them in a bad light for imperialist reasons. After that, Hopman goes on to give a run-down of the different Gods and Goddesses of the Druids, from Irish, to Welsh, to even Gaulish and continental Celtic deities, giving a description of each and…
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Deck Review: The Dragon Rider’s Oracle by Christine Arana Fader, Illustrated by Elena Dudina
The Dragona Rider’s Oracle by Christine Arana Fader, illustrated by Elena Dudina, published by Earthdancer, an imprint of Inner Traditions publishing. For those who love Dragons, this 43 card deck is different from the rest, in that each card not only features a Dragon, but also a “Dragon Rider”, various spirits and deities that the author has come across in her mediumship sessions. Each card then takes on two messages, as each spirit and dragon have a message for their respective cards, which can be found in the guidebook accompanying the deck. The deck itself comes in a sturdy box with an attractive cover, featuring the art from one of the…
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Book Review: Secrets of Greek Mysticism by George Lizos
Secrets of Greek Mysticism: A Modern Guide to Daily Practice with the Greek Gods and Goddesses by George Lizos, published by Hampton Roads Publishing, an imprint of Red Wheel/Weiser runs a total of 240 pages. The book begins with Lizos explaining his own cosmological views, as well as the nature of divinity and the Gods and Goddesses. Lizos then goes on to discuss the relationship between humans the Gods and Goddesses, before beginning a section exploring in more depth, the 12 Olympian Gods and Goddesses. Each of the 12 Olympians has a section that covers the deity’s virtues, as well as hymns, prayers, and meditations with those Gods and Goddesses. The…
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Book Review: Pagan Portals: Dragon Magic by Rachel Patterson
Here Be Dragons… Pagan Portals: Dragon Magic by Rachel Patterson is another lovely addition to one of my favorite Pagan publication series. For those unfamiliar, Pagan Portals is a series of short, introductory books on various deities, magicks, etc., by Moon Books. I received an e-book copy of this wonderful book, and it doesn’t disappoint, either, especially if you’re a lover of Dragons and their lore, myths, and power. Patterson begins by addressing myths from around the world pertaining to Dragons, from Chinese myths, to Ancient Greek, Roman and Egyptian myths, various Catholic and Orthodox myths with Dragons, Middle Eastern, Celtic and Norse, and even more world myths of Dragons, giving the unfamiliar…
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Book Review: Alive with Spirits by Althaea Sebastiani
Overview of Alive with Spirits Alive with Spirits: The Path and Practice of Animistic Witchcraft by Althaea Sebastiani, published by Weiser, is a book that I’ve been personally excited to read since Weiser mentioned it on social media. Sebastiani doesn’t disappoint, either. She starts off with what I consider a thesis on the philosophy of animism, in that it isn’t something you believe but rather, something you embody through daily practice. Sebastiani continuously breaks down societal barriers and programming that prevent most from fully taking on this worldview. She states that Animistic Witchcraft and Polytheism typically go hand-in-hand (and from experience as a Polytheist and Animist, I concur), but that other paradigms of Witchcraft also…
