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Witches Through History Grimoire And Oracle Deck
The Book and the deck are gorgeously illustrated. I love how the author/artist evokes a sense of folktale whimsy through both the book and deck with the individualistic and expressive artwork. Now to the book. Though well written and interesting, it was rather vague in certain areas. The biographies of the historical witches were well researched and presented in an engaging fashion, however. I would have liked to see him expand from the Eurocentric/American subjects he chose to include histories from multicultural settings. So we might learn history and archetypes from around the world and have a broader understanding of such. The author also has a good grasp on the…
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The Modern Merlin’s Corner: Lupercalia: The Ancient Pagan Roots of Valentine’s Day
What is Lupercalia? It’s a chilly February day, and snow is coming down in my neck of the woods as I write this. I look out my window, seeing the snow fall and am dreaming of warm summer days returning, and my trip to Southern California late last Summer. But, amidst my daydreams, I see a bit of hope; Imbolc is typically when Neo-Pagans celebrate the returning strength of the Sun, and the coming of Spring. For me, Imbolc is about healing, and reconnecting to your inner child/maiden, regardless of gender identity. Lupercalia, celebrated on February 15th, is more focused on love, in all its forms. In my personal…
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Book Review – The Witches of Culross by Rowan Morrison
Book Review The Witches of Culross by Rowan Morrison Self-published 217 Pages Release Date: July 19, 2023 As a historical fiction novel during the Scottish witch trials, there is a lot to unpack here. Overall the novel was incredibly vivid and captivating. The many women who were accused of witchcraft and ultimately killed for it were beautiful people, and the author has done them and their stories justice. They were simply women who tried to be mothers and daughters in peace but unfortunately lived in an era of wicked patriarchy. The author, Rowan Morrison, describes in striking detail the women’s ordeal of being tortured into confessing…
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Teachings of the Mythic Past
The Snake, The Goddess, The Underworld & Their Connections to Samhain – How To Connect with the Ancient & Mythic Past When you generally think of Samhain, snakes, and the underworld – you would not usually think of them as being interconnected. Not at first at least. However, in this fantastic universe that we live in, somehow all things are indeed connected. Snakes are some of the most misunderstood yet feared creatures on Earth. They embody mystery. They are symbols of life, death, and regeneration; some are even poisonous and venomous. What these sleek and slithery creatures all have in common is their ability to stay low to the ground…
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Book Review and Interview – Witchcraft Unchained by Craig Spencer
Book Review Witchcraft Unchained: Exploring the History and Traditions of British Craft Written by Craig Spencer Publisher: Crossed Crow Books 243 Pages Release Date: June 22, 2023 Bright Blessings, readers, When I saw this book was available to review, I jumped at it, and before I could say “thank you”, my editor sent it to me. Why did I specifically want to review this book? Because it is rare – rarer than rare. Today, few care about the history of the craft. Most pagans and witches want spell-books instead of learning about the roots of our craft. Some of us witches do want to learn, so…
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Teachings of the Mythic Past
Animals in Slavic Spirituality, Part I: Heroic Hedgehog, The Practical & Prickly Protector “If wits were pins, the man would be a veritable hedgehog. – Frances Hardinge “The Fox knows many things-the hedgehog, one big one.” – Archilochus Animals often make an appearance in folklore as symbols of the traits they are thought to embody. People have had a strong relationship with animals since the dawn of time. Among the many critters found in stories of yesterday, the hedgehog is more relevant than you may initially have thought – especially in Slavic spirituality and folklore. One tale tells the story of a hedgehog poking holes in the black of…
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Book Review – The Evil Eye: The History, Mystery, and Magic of the Quiet Curse by Antonio Pagliarulo
Book Review The Evil Eye: The History, Mystery, and Magic of the Quiet Curse by Antonio Pagliarulo Publisher: Weiser Books 256 Pages Release Date: May 1, 2023 The more occult books I read, the more I enjoy those which get really specific and focus on just one practice, going into detail and exploring it thoroughly. The Evil Eye: The History, Mystery, and Magic of the Quiet Curse is a perfect example of this type of book: one which takes a long, deep dive into the history and practices surrounding the Evil Eye. This book presents its singular topic with both depth and breadth, looking at the…
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Book Review – Church of Birds: An Eco-History of Myth and Religion by Ben Gagnon
Book Review Church of Birds: An Eco-History of Myth and Religion by Ben Gagnon Publisher: Moon Books 248 Pages Publication Date: April 1, 2023 Church of Birds is a compendium of myths, artifacts, and observations of birds throughout the history of humankind and their role in helping our ancient ancestors survive, thrive, and strive to be more connected to the gods and the natural world. Chapter 1: The Language of Birdsong discusses the similarities between the songs birds sing and the evolution of human speech. The author mentions myths from civilizations around the world that have humans descendant from birds at the time of creation. It has myths…
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Book Review – The Nature of Astrology: History, Philosophy, and the Science of Self-Organizing Systems by Bruce Scofield
Book Review The Nature of Astrology: History, Philosophy, and the Science of Self-Organizing Systems by Bruce Scofield Publisher: Inner Traditions 544 Pages Release Date: January 3, 2023 This is not a casual read. This is not the kind of astrology book that tells you what your sun sign is, what your moon sign is, your rising sign, and so on – you’re not going to find out how to learn how to find the love of your live or the best career for your personality by casting a perfect horoscope and following the planets each month, day, year – this is not that book. This is…
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Book Review – The Witches Almanac: Sorcerers, Witches and Magic from Ancient Rome to the Digital Age by Charles Christian
Book Review The Witches Almanac: Sorcerers, Witches and Magic from Ancient Rome to the Digital Age by Charles Christian Publisher: Visible Ink Press 336 Pages Release Date: February 28, 2023 Charles Christian’s The Witches Almanac, unlike other books which answer to the same name, is not a book of the year, seasonal celebrations, or planting cycles: instead, this is a book which catalogs witches and sorcerers, presenting them in a historical context, from the earliest known practitioners of magic in classical antiquity to the modern era. The book opens with an introduction that lays out the author’s approach to this topic, and it is followed by…
