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Book Review-A Confluence of Witches: A Modern Witches Anthology, compiled & edited by Casey Zabala
Book Review A Confluence of Witches: A Modern Witches Anthology Compiled & Edited by Casey Zabala Publisher: Weiser Books 208 page paperback Release Date: October 14th, 2024 A Confluence of Witches is a compilation of different articles compiled into a single volume, all dealing with Witchcraft, its roots, and its modern applications and practice. Many of these authors are known movers and shakers of the modern witchcraft world, making this a valuable addition to many a modern witch’s library. From pieces on lunar lore and how to work with the lunar phases, to money magic, to de-colonizing witchcraft, A Confluence of Witches will reignite a flame in any witch that feels as…
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Book Review-What Happens Next? Answers About the Afterlife by Jade-Sky
Book Review What Happens Next? Answers About the Afterlife By Jade-Sky Publisher: Rockpool Publishing 150 page Hardcover Release Date: October 1st, 2024 What Happens Next? Answers About the Afterlife by Jade-Sky is a non-religious approach to answering those nagging questions about the afterlife, even getting into specifics about death, spirits visiting you, whether hell is real or not, and more. This book came to me at a time of grief in my personal life, as I grieve the slow deterioration of my grandfather-who was more like a father to me-from cancer. While I personally don’t have as many questions about the afterlife, death, and similar topics, being a practicing Necromancer and…
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Book Review-The Complete Language of Trees: A Definitive & Illustrated History by S. Theresa Dietz
Book Review The Complete Language of Trees: A Definitive & Illustrated History By S. Theresa Dietz Publisher: Wellfleet Press 256 page Hardcover Release Date: March 28th, 2023 The Complete Language of Trees: A Definitive & Illustrated History is a beautiful, full color, illustrated encyclopedia of trees from around the world. Each entry gives the tree’s scientific name, folk names, maximum height, symbolic meanings, spiritual and healing powers, as well as any folklore and factoids about each tree. The trees themselves are alphabetized by scientific name rather than their common folk names, but there is an index in the rear of the book that gives the common names of each tree, and lists which…
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Book Review-Temple of the Stars: The Astrological Decans by Martin Goldsmith
Book Review Temple of the Stars: The Astrological Decans By Martin Goldsmith Publisher: Red Feather Mind Body Spirit 255 page E-Book Release Date: November 28th, 2024 Temple of the Stars: The Astrological Decans by Martin Goldsmith was an unexpectedly refreshing read on Astrology. So many books on Astrology seem to focus on repetitive ideas or themes, but this one offers a different focus, and a different way of looking at the signs, and your own birth chart. Astrology has a long history, and multiple cultures have practiced it in their own way, with their own interpretations. Goldsmith discusses the most well-known methods, the Greco-Babylonian, first practiced in Ancient Babylon, then adopted…
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Book Review-The Poison Path Grimoire: Dark Herbalism, Poison Magic, and Baneful Allies by Coby Michael
Book Review The Poison Path Grimoire: Dark Herbalism, Poison Magic, and Baneful Allies By Coby Michael Publisher: Destiny Books 224 page E-Book Release Date; November 5th, 2024 The Poison Path Grimoire: Dark Herbalism, Poison Magic, and Baneful Allies by Coby Michael was a much-anticipated book for me and I very happily chose it for review when my publisher offered it up. For those who don’t know, I am an avid Poison and Psychedelic Witch, and I work with many of these wonderful plant allies in my spiritual practices, whether it’s for necromancy, deathwalking, spells/magick/rituals, or anything else. They truly help me, and many others, connect to the current of…
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Book Review-Ancient Goddess Magic: Invoking the Queens of the Heavens: A Sacred Planet Book by Vanessa Lavallée
Book Review Ancient Goddess Magic: Invoking the Queens of the Heavens: A Sacred Planet Book By Vanessa Lavallée Publisher: Destiny Books 160 Page E-Book Release Date: November 3rd, 2024 Ancient Goddess Magic: Invoking the Queens of the Heavens: A Sacred Planet Book is a fascinating exploration and examination, both historically, and in a modern Neo-Pagan sense, of Goddess Archetypes that were present in many classical and middle eastern ancient Pagan cultures. Ancient Goddess Magic explores deities from Hittite, Sumerian, Babylonian, Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Greek and other ancient cultures and their goddesses. Ancient Goddess Magic also draws parallels to planetary and star worship in these ancient traditions, noting that deities such as Ishtar, Aphrodite, Astarte and…
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Book Review-Pagan Portals: Celtic Fairies in North America by Morgan Daimler
Book Review Pagan Portals: Celtic Fairies in North America By Morgan Daimler Publisher: Moon Books 110 page E-Book Release Date: November 1st, 2024 Those of you who read my reviews, and columns, have probably figured out that I’m a huge fan of the Pagan Portals series by Moon Books. Pagan Portals are short booklets, usually no more than 120 pages, that focus on a topic, deity, practice or something relating to paganism and/or witchcraft. They’re excellent for beginners and advanced practitioners alike, and I always find myself coming back to them for inspiration and reference. That said, Celtic Fairies in North America is the perfect addition to my library of works on Fairies and the Fae. Fairies…
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Book Review-Pagan Portals: Mestra The Shapeshifter: Ancient Heroine of the Sacred Grove by Dianna Rhyan
Book Review Pagan Portals: Mestra the Shapeshifter: Ancient Heroine of the Sacred Grove By Dianna Rhyan Publisher: Moon Books 136 page E-Book Release Date: November 1st, 2024 Pagan Portals: Mestra the Shapeshifter is another installment of the Pagan Portals series by Moon Books, and a favorite series of mine. Rhyan tells the story of Mestra from the literary sources that are available, and weaves these sources into a story of Mestra, from birth, to her eventual shapeshifting to flee the oppression of men wishing to marry her. She is the Heroine of the Sacred Grove, and can often be found in the forests, rivers and streams as a bird, an animal, the gentle breeze…
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Book Review-Pagan Portals: The Fallen Women of Mythology: Goddesses, Saints and Sinners by Lady Haight-Ashton
Book Review Pagan Portals: The Fallen Women of Mythology: Goddesses, Saints and Sinners By Lady Haight-Ashton Publisher: Moon Books 100 page E-Book Release Date: October 1st, 2024 Pagan Portals: The Fallen Women of Mythology: Goddesses, Saints and Sinners is the book I think many, especially women, in the United States could probably find benefit from reading. I don’t like to get political, especially in reviews, but the results of Tuesday really put the need for this book at a peak. Human rights to me aren’t political issues. I’m not sure I know where to begin; this book encapsulates so much divine rage from the oppression of women over the millennia (and…
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Book Review-Pagan Portals: Sulis: Solar Goddess of the Spring Waters by Rachel Patterson
Book Review Pagan Portals: Sulis: Solar Goddess of the Spring Waters By Rachel Patterson Publisher: Moon Books 106 page E-Book Release Date: October 1st, 2024 Pagan Portals: Sulis is a continuation of one of my favorite booklet series for Pagans, and on a goddess that is getting more attention and her mysteries are once again being unearthed. Sulis is a goddess I got to know back in 2020 during the pandemic, and since she has appeared and reappeared at seemingly sporadic times in my life. Not much is known about her compared to other Celtic goddesses such as Rhiannon or The Morrigan, and much evidence of her worship has been lost…
