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Book Review The Witches’ Almanac Issue 38 Spring 2019 to Spring 2020 Animals: Friends and Familiars Brightest Blessings This issue contains a wealth of knowledge. You want to take your time reading this issue, snuggle next to the fire with a cup of tea or hot cocoa. You can tell that each article or story they chose was thought out. Some of the articles make you ponder your thoughts on subjects, while others just entertain you, they are so adorable. You can learn a lot of lore, history and gain new insight on many topics. Some of the articles are shortened for the book, but they include links for further reading…

The Road to Runes: Dagaz and Breakthroughs Reading the Elder Futhark Runes as a form of divination is intriguing, amazing and enlightening. Remember last month when I pulled the rune Isa? I was locked in a stagnant situation, unsure whether to move forwards forcefully or relax and wait out the freeze. My day job, which I had wanted to leave for some time, was tentatively offering opportunities but then snatching them away, leaving me stuck and not knowing whether to take the plunge. Well, after some contemplation, I realised Isa was telling me that I was allowing myself to be frozen. I was giving in to the temptation to stare…

February 1, 2 Other Names: Imbolg (im-molc)(em-bowl’g) (Celtic), Candlemas (Christian), Brigantia (Caledonii), Oimelc, Festival of Light, Brigid’s (Brid, Bride) Day, La Fheill, An Fheille Bride, Candelaria (Mexico), Chinese New Year, Disting-tid (Feb 14th, Teutonic), DisaBlot, Anagantios, Lupercalia/Lupercus (Strega), Groundhog Day, Valentines Day. Animals & Mythical Beings: Firebird, dragon, groundhog, deer, burrowing animals, ewes, robin, sheep, lamb, other creatures waking from hibernation. Gemstones: Amethyst, garnet, onyx, turquoise. Incense/Oil: Jasmine, rosemary, frankincense, cinnamon, neroli, musk, olive, sweet pea, basil, myrrh, and wisteria, apricot, carnation. Colors/Candles: Brown, pink, red, orange, white, lavender, pale yellow, silver. Tools,Symbols, & Decorations: White flowers, marigolds, plum blossoms, daffodils, Brigid wheel, Brigid’s cross, candles, grain/seed for blessing, red…

This is a book and oracle deck that go together. The book is titled “Animal Totems and the Gemstone Kingdom” and the cards are titled “The Animal Allies and Gemstone Oracle Cards”. Both by Margaret Ann Lembo. The book is 222 pages and the deck has 44 cards with images and written information on both sides of cards. Artwork by Richard Crookes, crystal photos by Andy Frame Photography and Ines Blersch Fotografie. Published by Findhorn Press, 2018. The book retails for $19.99 U.S. and the cards retail for $15.99 U.S. They are available at both Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The oracle deck has 44 animals on one side of the card,…

Book Review Searching for the White Magician Spiritual Psychology and Manifestation of Destiny by Stefania Magidson in dialogue with Carmen Firan “I invite the reader to join me on a journey of exploration and rediscovery of that inner place that holds the lens of mystery through which Life filters, if we allow it. I invite (him) to find that magic wand that transforms inner worlds into realities whose potential is only temporarily dormant.”…. Stefania Magidson I love books where there is a dialogue between two individuals that allows for dynamic discourse rather than simply a teaching or theoretical format. Searching for the White Magician is just that. Its premise is…

We received a lovely Gemstone Offering Kit to review at PaganPagesOrg from Sacred Mists Shoppe and I thought it looked like so much fun I would invite someone new to the Craft to enjoy it with my old Crone self. Get another opinion, from young eyes, as well. The Gemstone Offering Kit from Sacred Mists Shoppe includes one pound of a mixed lot of offering gemstones (that is a lot!), a hand-rolled mini power candle made of beeswax, a mini sage smudging wand, two elemental matchsticks, instructions on what to do, and a free gift of an incense stick. The instructions are easy to follow. They show you how to…

A Book Review Sigil Witchery (An interview with Tempest follows this review.) It was very serendipitous that as this book was coming up for review, I had just registered to take a workshop with Tempest based on this very book. The word “sigil” means “seal” or an action/word of a spiritual nature. I would hazard a guess that most of us have seen sigils that mean specific things, written and drawn by others. Tempest brings sigils to us in a more personal way, with the sigils drawn by us, to have meaning to us, specifically. She simplifies it for us, while never detracting from their power. Before doing this, she…

Review Witches Coloring Book: A Colorful Book for Adults Featuring Beautiful Witches, Magical Potions, and Spellbinding Ritual Scenes by Coloring Book Cafe, 2018 I recently received this awesome coloring book to try out & review. It is a book of 24 single sided coloring pages, and it has 2 copies of each picture (48 pics total to color). This is great because if you mess up or if you and a friend want the same picture to color you have a spare! It is 8 by 10 inches so standard size for a coloring book. The title is Witches and appropriately so. This book is filled with all things witchy…

Celebrating the Old Ways in New Times For Imbolc February 2019 Bright Blessings! Oh my, did the Winter Hag hit us last night. In Central Ohio we got I don’t know how many inches of snow- which would be fine- except we got solid ice underneath it first. I can’t walk my dog in certain parts of the grass or we will slide away! The plows, salt trucks, and sidewalk clearing is in full swing. I only had to shovel my front stoop, as a neighbor shoveled the walk before our helpers got here. Not bad, but I am aching all over- as it’s only 8 degrees, and my body…

Imbolc, the Seed, and Growing Abundance Imbolc has long been a sign of the beginning of the end of winter. In many parts of the world, this is the time when seeds that have long laid in the deep belly of the earth at least start to spring forth with green shoots. Accordingly, seeds wind up in Imbolc cakes, the white and new green of the young shoots is associated with the Sabbat, and even the name of Imbolc means “in the belly,” referring to the pregnancy of ewes, and the seeds in the earth. This year, I’m trying to embrace prosperity and grow abundance as my way of celebrating…