-
Book Review – The Small World I Ching by Peggy Jones
Book Review The Small World I Ching by Peggy Jones Publisher: Tortoiseshell Publishing 90 Pages Publication Date: September 14, 2021 I have been a devotee of the I Ching since I found the classic I Ching: The Book of Change by John Blofeld at a library book sale way back in 1985 – a paperback which seemed small but was packed with a ponderous prose that was often almost impossible to understand. To this day, my handwritten notes are stuffed in between the pages because I so often felt like I was flying without manual instruments – just going on instinct. I would throw my pennies and try…
-
Book Review – The Book of Shadows: A Journal of Magick, Spells, & Rituals by Anastasia Greywolf
Book Review The Book of Shadows A Journal of Magick, Spells, & Rituals by Anastasia Greywolf Publisher: Wellfleet Press 160 Pages Publication date: October 5, 2021 This new addition to the Wellfleet Press collection of “Mystical Handbooks” is an impressive looking combination between a beginner’s guide to magick and spells and a journal to record progress in spellcasting. The book promises a foundation in witchcraft basics, reviews of what you need to become a witch, and over 40 spells and rituals aimed at transforming and improving your life. The first thing I noticed about this book was the beautiful presentation. From the striking, gothic-inspired cover to the detailed…
-
Book Review – Modern Wicca: Beliefs and Traditions for Contemporary Life by Rowan Morgana
Book Review Modern Wicca: Beliefs and Traditions for Contemporary Life by Rowan Morgana 170 pages Publisher: Rockridge Press Publication date: April 21, 2020 I have never thought of Wicca as “modern”. In fact, back in the mid-to-late 1980’s, when I first began to explore this religion – and its co-religions Paganism, Heathenism, Druidism, and various forms of Witchcraft – it was routinely called “the Old Religion”. After reading books by scholars like Margaret Murray, Merlin Stone and Monica Sjöö, among others, it made perfect sense to me that the ancients revered a great goddess over all and the rise of a patriarchal society gradually changed this to where…
-
Book Review – Inner Practices for the Twelve Nights of Yuletide by Anne Stallkamp & Werner Hartung
Book Review Inner Practices for the Twelve Nights of Yuletide by Anne Stallkamp & Werner Hartung Publisher: Earthdancer Books 144 Pages Publication Date: October 5, 2021 (Originally published in German in 2014) There is a special magic between the solar and the lunar years, beginning on Yule eve and continuing for 12 nights. The twelfth night begins the evening of January 1, ending at sundown January 2. This span has been called a buffer zone, and the fifth season. Think of it as the pagan alternative to an Advent calendar or the 12 Days of Christmas. It is a pause, a time of transition. Electric lights allow us…
-
Book Review – Your Spiritual Almanac: A Year of Living Mindfully by Joey Hulin
Book Review Your Spiritual Almanac A Year of Living Mindfully by Joey Hulin Publisher: Laurence King Publishing 256 Pages Publishing Date: October 19, 2021 This book comes to you from a generation quite jaded by planners, journals, and almanacs. It has obliterated this impossibly high bar. Joey Hulin, who is just an amazing human being, has clearly mastered being a human. She breaks down each month, and she gives you EVERYTHING. A meaningful fable, journaling exercises, recipes, rituals, planetary aspects, yoga positions, aspirations, meditation, and more! An example: Ritual for November: Rites of passage are central to a number of cultural, spiritual and religious practices, and they…
-
Video Book Review – Ani Trime’s Little Book of Affirmations: 52 Illustrated Practices for a Peaceful and Open Mind
Video Book Review Ani Trime’s Little Book of Affirmations 52 Illustrated Practices for a Peaceful and Open Mind Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC 136 Pages Publication Date: October 15, 2019 Bright Blessings readers! This darling little volume was lovingly written by Buddhist nun Ani Trime Lhamo. It includes 52 affirmations you can read through all at once or meditate on one per week, making this a years long affirmations volume! Included are illustrations by 39 different artists, all of which are just as empowering and inspirational as Trime’s beautiful affirmations. Life gets us down sometimes and we lose sight of how much personal power we have. Published in 2019,…
-
Video Book Review – Practical Alchemy: A Guide to the Great Work by Brian Cotnoir
Video Book Review Practical Alchemy A Guide to the Great Work by Brian Cotnoir Publisher: Red Wheel / Weiser Books 128 pages Publication Date: July 1, 2021 Bright Blessings! In this video I review this excellent publication that was written by somebody with over thirty years’ experience in the study and application of alchemy, Brian Cotnoir. He’s put it together as a guide for beginners, saying he wishes he’d had something similar when he got started studying, himself! At 128 pages, you’d think you could just breeze through it, but I highly recommend you take your time studying this, learning as much as possible, and researching further. This…
-
Book Review – Pagan Portals: Temple of the Bones – Rituals to the Goddess Hekate by Jennifer Teixeira
Book Review Pagan Portals Temple of the Bones Rituals to the Goddess Hekate by Jennifer Teixeira Publisher: Moon Books 112 Pages Publication Date: June 1, 2021 Temple of the Bones is an inclusive and accessible introduction to working meaningfully with the Goddess and Titaness, Hekate. More than just a guide to Her many epithets and symbols, this book talks through how to work as a group to honour Hekate, and how to work magic for and with Hekate, to manifest change and healing within groups or communities. This work is done through knowledge of appropriate herbs, offerings, ritual, and honouring the dead. The book is introduced by a…
-
Book Review – Daily Magic: Spells and Rituals for Making the Whole Year Magical by Judika Illes
Book Review Daily Magic Spells and Rituals for Making the Whole Year Magical by Judika Illes Publisher: HarperOne 592 Pages Publication Date: August 31, 2021 “Daily Magic: Spells and Rituals for Making the Whole Year Magical” is the quintessential collection of days that pagans of all varieties celebrate around the world. It is a perpetual calendar of dates having spiritual, magical, and esoteric significance, helping readers make the most of the energies and influences that are associated with special power times. Some significant historical events, such as September 11, are also referenced. April 30, for example, is perfect for spellcasting – especially for love, romance, fertility, and prosperity.…
-
Tarot Deck Review – The Entanglement Tarot by Sarah McMenomy
Tarot Deck Review The Entanglement Tarot by Sarah McMenomy Publisher: Laughing Cat Publishing 78 Card Deck & 56 Page PDF Guidebook Publication Date: August 2021 The Entanglement Tarot kit comes in a very sturdy 3 inch by 3 1/2 inch by 1 1/2 inch cardboard box with a gift-box style lid. The box has a black matte finish with card images on the lid, and a brief description of the deck and the link for the Entanglement Tarot Guidebook on the back. The cards are hexagram in shape, 1 1/2 inches per side, with a matte finish, black for the background and colors for the card name and…