{"id":21165,"date":"2019-11-01T01:10:49","date_gmt":"2019-11-01T05:10:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/?p=21165"},"modified":"2019-11-29T14:43:10","modified_gmt":"2019-11-29T18:43:10","slug":"book-review-sacred-smoke-amy-blackthorn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2019\/11\/01\/book-review-sacred-smoke-amy-blackthorn\/","title":{"rendered":"Book Review – Sacred Smoke: Clear Away Negative Energies and Purify Body, Mind and Spirit by Amy Blackthorn"},"content":{"rendered":"

Book Review<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

Sacred Smoke<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

Clear Away Negative Energies and Purify Body, Mind and Spirit by Amy Blackthorn<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

176 <\/span>Pages<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/h1>\n

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Throughout time people have embraced their sense of smell in new and<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

exciting ways, using delicate flowers, plants and resins to uplift them <\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

and open their eyes to the world and the universe.<\/b><\/i><\/span>1<\/b><\/i><\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sacred Smoke: Clear Away Negative Energies and Purify Body, Mind and Spirit<\/b><\/i> is a book that you will return to over and over again for sharing, learning and crafting powerful natural magick. Don\u2019t let the size of the book fool you into thinking that there is not enough material. The best magick is accomplished with the simplest actions and ingredients. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amy invites us to develop a new respect and relationship with resins, herbs and incense taking these beyond simply being an alternative to air freshener or ephemeral ambiance for your workings and imbuing them with reverence and intention filled purpose. All of our senses carry us into the \u201cother\u201d realms in their own way and the olfactory sense is one of the most profound in its ability to carry us through time and space in recreating and forming memory and cyclical reciprocity. Sacred Smoke: Clear Away Negative Energies and Purify Body, Mind and Spirit<\/b><\/i> allows the reader to do just that. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What we\u2019re doing here is not just burning plants. We are forming a connection to<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

the earth under our feet. We are connecting to the people around us, in our homes<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

and in our lives. We are using these plants to remind us that we are alive…<\/b><\/i>2.<\/b><\/i><\/sup> <\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amy offers a four-fold approach to enrich your experience and developing acumen. These are:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Brass Tacks-<\/b><\/i>sections including practical ways and practice to begin building your own foundations of use for sacred smoke; <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Changing Seasons: Rites for the Passage of Time<\/b><\/i>-applying what you\u2019ve crafted in the setting of ritual and working;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Well-Being: Checking on Energetic Health<\/b><\/i>-much needed techniques for maintaining the health of yourself and home to troubleshoot and repel the build up of disruptive negative energies;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

And, Featured Herbs and Resins<\/b>-chapter focused selections of what to use and why. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Everything you need to know is covered in an impressive arrangement of chapters and focus that starts with \u201cWhat Everyone Needs to Know Before Starting a Cleansing Practice\u201d<\/i> (Chapter 1) to the concluding body of information ad developing the discernment to know \u201cWhen Not to Reach for the Sacred Smoke\u201d<\/i> (Chapter 9). I found this last chapter to be the most engaging and appreciate the sensibilities of Amy to include the reminder that more is not always better and that despite how accomplished we may feel in any given area there are times when restraint is the better caution and seeking outside help is an even better choice. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Another favorite was Chapter 6 <\/b>-\u201cRock and Roll Lifestyle: Adding Crystals to Up Your Game<\/b><\/i>.\u201d I love to incorporate crystals for all of my workings and the additional support of bathing them in sacred smoke …<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

By adding stones to your workings, you ground your intention in the long term.<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Once the smoke dissipates, it is easy to forget that anything was done at all,<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

but by carrying a stone with you, especially one that has been bathed in the smoke <\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

of a blend you created yourself… it becomes a literal touchstone that can<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

anchor the magic you have created. <\/b><\/i>3.<\/b><\/i><\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Would I recommend?<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There is so much more I could write about this book, but it deserves an individual look to reveal what speaks to you personally. The information is written in a user friendly and very engaging way that speaks to the novice as well as the advanced practitioner of herbs and magical practice. I found it to be a timely addition to my library and practice and the need for a deeper connection to earth\u2019s bounty and my personal energetic well-being. Another well written book by Amy Blackthorn!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Bonus Excerpt from the Publisher\u2019s Page:<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Cosmic Correction<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Magical correction fluid for the universe, a do-over.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n