-
Book Review – Hoodoo Justice Magic by Miss Aida
Book Review Hoodoo Justice Magic by Miss Aida Publisher: Weiser Books Publication Date: November 10, 2021 288 pages I have always been interested in Hoodoo, Voodoo, and other types of folk magic from around the world. This book covers spells, recipes, various rituals, and twenty-seven prayers for people that are afraid to perform actual spell-work. It also covers the ethics of performing the spell-work. Are you justified in what you are doing? Do these people actually deserve what you are sending out to them? In the beginning, Miss Aida goes over how our ancestors performed spell-work to exact revenge on those that did them wrong, as well as…
-
Book Review – Witch, Please: Empowerment and Enlightenment for the Modern Mystic by Victoria Maxwell
Book Review Witch, Please: Empowerment and Enlightenment for the Modern Mystic by Victoria Maxwell Published by Red Wheel208 Pages Published: March 2022 “When we start getting into magical work we often get so carried away with the magic, connection to spirit and high- vibe feelings that we forget to ground ourselves in the here and now. But grounding is incredibly important. If we don’t stay grounded, our magic has nowhere to anchor itself. We can try to manifest amazing things in our lives, but if we aren’t present in our own bodies and in our own lives, that magic has nowhere to go. Or sometimes what happens is…
-
Book Review – My Pocket Self-Care: Anytime Activities to Refresh Your Mind, Body, and Spirit by Adams Media
Book Review My Pocket Self-Care: Anytime Activities to Refresh Your Mind, Body, and Spirit by Adams Media Published by Simon & Schuster 176 pages Publication date: December 8, 2020 This cute little book is an excellent addition to my library of self-care books. It covers the body, mind and spirit, rather than just one of those topics like some books I own. I think it’s great how it is small enough that I could just throw it in my purse and have it easily at hand. In fact, it lived in my purse as I was reading and reviewing it. Now it lives on my nightstand for quick…
-
Book Review – Once Around the Sun: Stories, Crafts, and Recipes to Celebrate the Sacred Earth Year by Ellen Evert Hopman
Book Review Once Around the Sun: Stories, Crafts, and Recipes to Celebrate the Sacred Earth Year Written by Ellen Evert Hopman Illustrated by Lauren Mills Publisher: Destiny Books Publication Date: May 3, 2022 160 pages Once Around the Sun: Stories, Crafts, and Recipes to Celebrate the Sacred Earth Year is an illustrated collection of tales with related activities celebrating eight Pagan festivals and the changing seasons. Each is beautifully done, with an illustration, an original story based on a traditional folktale meant to be read aloud, and crafts, recipes, and activities that relate to the story. Ellen Evert Hopman identifies as a follower of the Earth religion, known…
-
Book Review – Journeys with Plant Spirits by Emma Farrell
Book Review Journeys with Plant Spirits by Emma Farrell Published by Bear & Company 288 pages Publication date: October 26, 2021 In part one of Journeys with Plant Spirits, Emma Farrell delves into several broad spiritual and supernatural topics that are shared by many shamanic traditions, such as healing wounds from past lives and navigating shamanic journeys through the upper, middle, lower, and other worlds. This introduction takes a primarily animistic view of the plant spirits, with a heavy emphasis on using intuitive practices like meditation to connect to the spirits of the plants. While many of these notions are now well-trod traditional pathways of plant spirit medicine…
-
Book Review – The Way of Abundance and Joy: The Shamanic Teachings of don Alberto Taxo by Shirley Blancke
Book Review The Way of Abundance and Joy: The Shamanic Teachings of don Alberto Taxo by Shirley Blancke Publisher: Destiny Books Publication Date: February 15, 2022 272 pages Sharing ancient Andean shamanic wisdom and practices with people in the United States for more than 20 years, don Alberto Taxo explains, “So those who have the qualities of the power of the Eagle need to develop a bit more the power of the Condor: perception, intuition, feeling, flowing. And those who have developed Condor power a lot and lack the Eagle power need to cultivate qualities of logic.” Recognized as a master yachak (a shaman of the elements), don…
-
Book Review – The Modern Witchcraft Guide to Runes: Your Complete Guide to the Divination Power of Runes by Judy Ann Nock
Book Review The Modern Witchcraft Guide to Runes: Your Complete Guide to the Divination Power of Runes by Judy Ann Nock Publisher: Adams Media 254 Pages Publication Date: 2022 Recently I was participating in a class that briefly taught about runes. Being the person that I am, I went out and purchased a set of runes. I got a book and I learned all about runes…or so I thought. The Modern Witchcraft Book of Runes taught me so much more than I had learned in class, from my rune book or from the internet. First, this book is well-written and enjoyable to read. Second, is the organization of…
-
Book Review – Healing Plants of Greek Myth by Angela Paine
Book Review Healing Plants of Greek Myth by Angela Paine Published by Moon Books 348 pages Publication date: April 29, 2022 Angela Paine’s Healing Plants of Greek Myth has a wonderfully focused subject area which it sticks to very well: exploring the plants which play roles in ancient Greek mythology, especially those which had medicinal use. It’s useful to note that unknown and potentially fictional plants do not make an appearance here; moly, for example, is not explored at all. The book starts with a detailed introduction to the central deities, heroes, and stories of Greek mythology, as well as a lovely description of the author’s visit to…
-
Book Review – Empty Cauldrons: Navigating Depression Through Magic and Ritual by Terence P. Ward
Book Review Empty Cauldrons: Navigating Depression Through Magic and Ritual by Terence P. Ward Publisher: Llewellyn Publications 288 Pages Publication Date: January 8, 2022 It is very difficult for many people who suffer from depression to talk about it. Some can discuss it with friends and family, some reach out to professionals, and the rare few share their journey on social media and other public forums. There is still a lot of stigma attached to depression and many choose to keep their depression a secret out of fear of being stigmatized or to prevent feelings of being further ostracized. Empty Cauldrons is a pagan perspective that takes a…
-
Book Review – Brigid’s Light: Tending the Ancestral Flame of the Beloved Celtic Goddess, Edited by Cairelle Crow and Laura Louella
Book Review Brigid’s Light: Tending the Ancestral Flame of the Beloved Celtic Goddess Edited by Cairelle Crow and Laura Louella Published by Weiser Books 256 Pages Published: March 2022 “Brigid is a shapeshifter. As a goddess, she takes many forms: as a woman of various ages from girl to crone, as a serpent, as a pillar of fire, and as a woman with flames emanating from her head. Sometimes she appears as a single being, but she may also take the form of a triplicity, or as three sisters. Brigid seems able to take on the spiritual characteristics most needed and most accessible to her devotees…” ¹ Brigid’s…
