Book reviews

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Book Review: Seasons for the Soul

Seasons for the Soul: Spells of Nature is a very different book from what I’m used to reading. It is about the magic of the seasons, the gifts of each and the beauty, but all this comes from the perspective of one who works in embroidery.  And it’s beautiful.

What Julia van den Bosch creates is just stunning. Taking inspiration from nature, she recreates stunning moments in time and offers them up to the reader, alongside herbal information, poetry, the seasonal flora and fauna and more. It’s a book that takes time to read, because each piece of her art that is pictured requires attention. Your gaze is drawn into all the fine details that are put into each piece.

Van den Bosch takes us through some of the process, why she uses certain crystals in her works, the meanings behind them and what they give to the piece itself. It is clear that she understands the cycles and the seasons intimately, and weaves us into a world that is utterly enchanting. From the tiniest moth or bats, to the great towering stalks of cow parsley, the humble but persistent dandelion, to magical and mysterious mushrooms, snowdrops and the unfurling fronds of ferns, all of these are presented beautifully and artfully in this work.

If you are into your arts and crafts, I am sure this book will be a joy to you. If you are a nature lover, this book will also sing to your soul. If you are both, well, then you are in for a real treat.

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My Top 10 Books on Witchcraft, Druidry and More!

I thought I would share with you some top ten lists of my favourite books on Witchcraft, Druidry, history and reference material, herbcraft and spellcraft. I hope you like them, and that you try some of these works, if you haven’t already! I haven’t included my own books such as The Path of the Hedge Witch or The Book of Hedge Druidry and others as I wanted to reccomend other authors, but of course I highly recommend my own works right alongside these as well 🙂 Please find my Top 10 Lists below 🙂

Top 10 Beginner Books on Wicca and Witchcraft

  1. Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham
  2. Living Wicca: A Further Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham
  3. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Wicca and Witchcraft by Denise Zimmerman and Katherine A. Gleason
  4. A Witch Alone by Marian Green
  5. The Green Hedge Witch by Rae Beth
  6. The Earth Path by Starhawk
  7. Solitary Wicca for Life by Arin Murphy-Hiscock
  8. Natural Witchery by Ellen Dugan
  9. How to Become a Witch by Amber K, Azrael Arynn K
  10. Natural Witchcraft by Marian Green

Top 10 Advanced Books on Wicca and Witchcraft

  1. The Witch’s Path by Thorn Mooney
  2. The Circle Within by Dianne Sylvan
  3. Philosophy of Wicca by Amber Fisher
  4. The Inner Mysteries by Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone
  5. Of Chalk and Flint by Val Thomas
  6. Transformative Witchcraft by Jason Mankey
  7. The Twelve Wild Swans by Starhawk and Hilary Valentine
  8. The Wiccan Warrior by Kerr Cuhulain
  9. The Study of Witchraft by Deborah Lipp
  10. Walking the Tides by Nigel Pearson

Top 10 Books on Druidry

  1. Spritis of the Sacred Grove by Emma Restall Orr
  2. Living Druidry by Emma Restall Orr
  3. Ritual by Emma Restall Orr
  4. The Salmon in the Spring by Jason Kirkey
  5. Way of the Druid by Graeme Tallboys
  6. Natural Druidry by Kristoffer Hughes
  7. Celtic Devotional by John and Caitlinn Matthews
  8. Wild Magic by Danu Forest
  9. The Druid Way by Phillip Carr-Gomm
  10. Living With Honour by Emma Restall Orr

Top 10 Books on History and also Reference Material

  1. The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft by Judika Illes
  2. An ABC of Witchcraft by Doreen Valiente
  3. Stations of the Sun by Ronald Hutton
  4. The Witch by Ronald Hutton
  5. The Triumph of the Moon by Ronald Hutton
  6. The Book of Witchery by Ellen Dugan
  7. Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft by Raymond Buckland
  8. The Spiral Dance by Starhawk
  9. Cunningham’s Encyclopedias (all of them: Magical Herbs, Wicca in the Kitchen, Crystal Gem, Incense Oils, etc.)
  10. The Devil’s Plantation by Nigel Pearson

Top 10 Herbcraft Books

  1. Hedgerow Medicine by Julie Bruton Seal et al
  2. Herbs for Healthy Living by Dr. Ute Künkele et als
  3. Brighid’s Healing by Gina McGarry
  4. Wild Witchcraft by Marian Green
  5. Garden Witchery by Ellen Dugan
  6. The Garden Witch’s Herbal by Ellen Dugan
  7. Magical Herbalism by Scott Cunningham
  8. The Hearth Witch’s Compendium by Anna Franklin
  9. A Druid’s Herbal by Ellen Evert Hopman
  10. The Herbalist’s Bible by Julie Bruton Seal et al

Top 10 Spellcraft Books

  1. Earth Power and also the follow-up book, Earth, Air, Fire and Water by Scott Cunningham
  2. Protection Magic by Ellen Dugan
  3. Prosperity Magic by Ellen Dugan
  4. The Natural Magician by Vivianne Crowley
  5. Spellcraft for Hedge Witches by Rae Beth
  6. Magickal Self-Defense by Kerr Cuhulain
  7. Spellcrafts by Scott Cunningham
  8. Spells and How They Work by Janet and Stewart Farrar
  9. The Book of Celtic Magic by Kristoffer Hughes
  10. Protection Spells by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

I hope that these lists helps you, wherever you are on your path! Blessings.

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Book Review: Re-Publication of Raven Grimassi’s Wiccan Mysteries

I don’t normally write bad reviews for books, however, as I received a copy of the re-publication of Raven Grimassi’s Wiccan Mysteries from Crossed Crow books with the promise to write about it, I feel obligated to uphold my promise.

I cannot endorse this book to anyone. I just simply cannot. This book was written in the late 90’s, and quite frankly, it should have stayed there. It should not have been reprinted, in my opinion, because of the gross historical, scientific and theological inaccuracies that run through every single chapter. I’m a fan of late 80’s and 90’s Wicca books, that’s what I grew up on. (I also read pretty much everything new that comes out too.) These older books hold a special place in my heart, and many of them still contain a lot of good stuff that is relevant to today’s forms of Witchcraft. If you’ve read my previous blog post, you’ll know what I’m talking about.

But not this book.

It begins by taking the roots of Wicca back to Neolithic times, with a whopping dose of conjecture about the Neolithic person’s mindset, their customs and rituals, all presented as fact. We just don’t know what our Neolithic ancestors believed, and some of the stuff that Grimassi comes up with in this book is way, waaaay out there. Weird ideas about the development of sexual taboos to make men go out and hunt are just the beginning. This is before he later dives into orgone energy in following chapters, with the pseudoscience of Odic Force. Totally woo-woo.

His insistence that Wicca is derived from a pre-Christian fertility cult runs through this whole work. He acknowledges briefly Gerald Gardner and Doreen Valiente, but states emphatically that this is an old religion, not a new or reconstructed path. There is also a great deal of time spent on the split between “Elder Wiccans” and “Neo Wiccans” with a lot of shaming of the latter because they dare to think for themselves and aren’t inclined to follow dogma. Yes, those are his words. Those youngsters, they just don’t understand The Mysteries!

In fact, the only thing that I could agree on with the author was the insistence on studying the natural world to uncover The Mysteries. This was a very short couple of paragraphs.

Don’t even get me started on his historical facts about the Druids. Just. Don’t.

Or the theology of the Druids presented in this text. There is no Dianus.

In the Sacred Texts chapter, he doesn’t credit the authors of the works in each study of the texts, which is annoying. As well, Doreen Valiente’s “Witch’s Creed” seems to have been doctored at the end, with the last couplet of “The Wiccan Rede” thrown into it for some bizarre reason.

We also have the problem of Grimassi’s cultural appropriation of Strega, and his re-writing a new version of it being referenced throughout the text.

Don’t even bother with the Women’s Mysteries section. Or the Men’s. I just. Can’t. Even. Or the sexual rites. Please don’t use the priestess’ body as an altar. It’s bad for her back.

All in all, this book should never have been reprinted, in my opinion. Its only use would be as a demonstration to those new to the Craft of what not to read, and how inaccurate some of these works can be. Re-releasing this material only adds to the pool of strange facts and made-up histories that are still circulating within the pagan sphere.

Like I said, I’m a huge fan of 90’s Wicca books. But I am so, SO glad that I never came across this one all those years ago.

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Reviews Help Readers AND Authors

There’s in nothing an author likes better than a good review. And even a not-so-good review can still help an author to know where their work might be lacking, or where they may have missed the mark. Reviews are so important!

I always try to leave reviews for books, at least on Amazon, and as many of you know, I also review many other author’s works here on this blog. Although the beast that is Amazon is a bit unruly, it is where authors get the most sales, and so a simple review left there does actually really make a difference. It’s important to support your favourite authors in this way, although if you simply cannot tolerate Amazon, there are other review sites such as Goodreads which will benefit them as well.

I’m still getting feedback from my latest book, The Path of the Hedge Witch. More is always appreciated, of course, so please, leave a review if you haven’t already! What I would really like to know in a review is:

Did this book help you in some way?

Which parts really resonated with you?

Did you enjoy the style and tone of the work?

Was it easy to understand?

Would you recommend it to others?

If time is of the essence, then simply leave a star rating, eg. 4 out of 5 stars. This takes a mere second to click on the star rating you desire, and then you’re done. You don’t even have to write anything, just rate the book. This is yet another simple and effective way to support your favourite authors.

Last year I wrote a post on how to write meaningful book reviews, which you can always take a look at if you are interested. Not all book reviews need to be glowing endorsements of the work, but you can always write a good, critical review while being respectful and honest. This blog post was written from the perspectives of being an author, a book-lover and reviewer!

So, if you haven’t already, I would love to hear from you regarding The Path of the Hedge Witch. Feel free to leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, wherever you can, regarding the points mentioned above. This helps me not only to continue as an author, but to improve as an author.

And to everyone who has supported me on this journey of over a decade now, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

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Book Review: Witches’ Sabbats and Esbats by Sandra Kynes (Formerly published as A Year of Ritual)

Kynes’ re-published work through Crossed Crow books brings a long-standing classic back to life. Within its pages you will find good, solid foundations for starting your own practice, whether that is solo or in a group context. Indeed, she provides ritual outlines for both group and solo practices for each sabbat and esbat, which can be invaluable to the beginner.

There are good tables of basic correspondences, including that of the Norse runes. The runes in an esbat ritual are a new addition to the work, which I’m sure many will find interesting. The second chapter that presents the tables of correspondences and symbols in general is in fact new, and is a good starting point for those who are beginning to learn the ins and outs of a witchcraft or wiccan tradition.

The book is well-written, in an easy-going tone that draws the reader in, explaining things concisely without getting too flowery in the descriptions. The author’s own experience comes through in this work, and after having written nineteen books since the first release of this one, has become an established voice in the witchcraft and pagan community.

The only hiccup in this work was, for me, a personal one which others may not find issue with at all. In the October esbat ritual, it is dedicated to Tolkein’s elven mythology. For me it feels a bit wrong to call upon characters based in a set of fantasy books (albeit amazing ones and one of my favourite authors) and honouring them as an established mythos. For others this may present no problem at all.

A whole new generation of witches will be able to access this book once more, now that it is no longer out of print and re-released. I hope they enjoy it too.

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10 Tips On How to Write A Meaningful Book Review

I’ve read lots of books. LOTS. And with the internet it is now so easy to leave a review on anything, especially books. There are websites solely dedicated to book reviews. In this blog post, I offer some pointers on how to leave a meaningful, critical book review based on my own experience both as a reviewer, and as one being reviewed.

1.Read the book. I know, this may be a bit of a “duh”, but you’d be surprised how many people leave reviews when they haven’t read the book, or have only read a couple of the first chapters. This means that the review is uninformed, and is really a waste of the reviewer’s time and those who are reading the review. If you just can’t bother any longer with a book, put it down, give it away, whatever – but don’t offer a review. Writing one up based on a couple of chapters isn’t worth the effort. When I’m looking for a book to read and I come across these kinds of reviews, they can be irritating, to say the least as they say very little about the book itself. And as a writer, I’ve had people review my work without having read a single word. One review was a one-star review, which said “bought this for a friend, but I don’t believe in all this witchy stuff”. That review was completely uninformed, and affects the overall rating of the book itself. Don’t be like that person.

2. Offer a critical review, without the ego getting involved. As I read a lot, I also read a lot of book reviews. And some of them are simply ego trips by people who want to try and prove that they know more than the author does about a certain subject. This happens quite often in Pagan non-fiction books. Every book will get at least one review by someone who “knows better” and is showing off that knowledge in their review. When leaving a review, get yourself out of the way first and foremost. The review is about the book, not you. Don’t be tempted to show off.

    3. Offer a critical review. Following on from the point above, don’t be afraid to leave a critical review. If you didn’t like a book, say why and give examples.

    4. Don’t dismiss a book because you didn’t like something the author said. I have been guilty of this in the past, before I wisened up a little. If I came across something that I didn’t agree with, I’d stop reading and give the book away. What a waste of time and money! It is an immature reaction, which means getting your ego out of way. I’ve had to re-buy books I discarded in the past because I had been overrun by my ego. Keep reading, and take what you want out of the work, rather than throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Granted, some books can be so badly written, or so factually incorrect that after several of these instances you just give up. If that is the case, and you still want to leave a review, then state this clearly and the fact that you have not read the entire work. Give more than three examples, to show that you have tried your best but just can’t get on with it. Or just leave it be. Remember the second point above when writing that kind of review. Review intentionally, rather than writing a reactionary one.

    5. Review what is in the book, rather than what you would have liked to have seen in the book. This is another bugbear for me when I’m searching for a book and reading reviews to help my decision making. It’s totally unhelpful to read what someone wanted to see, rather than what was actually in the book. Speaking as an author, there are many reasons why some things haven’t made the cut in a book which you may have liked to have included. Word counts are a big thing. What your editors think should be included or not included is another one. What you want to focus on in your own work is highly important, so don’t play to the gallery. Review what is in the book first and foremost, as that is the most helpful to those who are reading the review.

    6. Rate the book appropriately. When handing out stars, be sure you do so correctly, as a single slip of the finger or mouse could mean that you write a glowing review, but only give the book one star. I’ve seen this on more than one occasion.

    7. Personal reviews are great to read, and offering a bit of yourself in the review will endear others to engage with it. Whether you liked a book or not, feel free to write about your own personal experiences with the book, or with the book’s topic without getting too self-involved or showing off. This puts a real person behind the reviewer’s handle, and lets you know that a real human being engaged with this work and is leaving a heartfelt review.

    8. If you must direct others to books other than the one you are reviewing, check your motives first and foremost. I have seen reviews (mostly bad) left by people in the Pagan community who are just ganging up on someone while trying to promote their mate’s work. Don’t be like those people. It’s bad form and is so easy to spot when reading reviews. If you really feel you must direct people to works other than the book you are reviewing, then try writing a blog post or a post on social media about the book or books you would recommend instead of putting that in another’s book review, as that can be so easily misinterpreted for the reasons that I have given above. It makes it suspect.  If you enjoyed the work and can offer similar examples, go for it – those are great reviews to work with, but be clear to state first and foremost why you enjoyed the book you are currently reviewing, before recommending others of a similar vein.

    9. What to include in a book review. It’s always good to start with a short summary of the book. Then move on to the important aspects of the work. Give each of these some attention, if there is more than one. Then give examples, and even short quotes if possible.  Summarise with a concise conclusion, and be sure to title your review appropriately, as well as leave the proper rating.

    10. Be respectful. As Net Galley states: “Be thoughtful and respectful about the work and the author. Aim for meaningful, not mean. Focus on the merits of the book, rather than the author as an individual.” Take your time when writing a review. Don’t rush it, and check your work, ensuring that there aren’t spelling errors, misquotes, etc. as this can make people turn away from your review.

    Happy Reading!

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    Book Review: Soul Shift by Rachel Macy Stafford

    Soul Shift: The Weary Human’s Guide to Getting Unstuck and Reclaiming Your Path to Joy is a wonderful book, filled with wisdom and insight. Through the sharing of personal experience, vulnerability and little victories the author leads us on a journey towards finding our most authentic way of being, and how to show up for our lives. Showing up as our authentic self is not an easy thing in today’s world, however, Soul Shift guides us through the journey in small, easy steps and with inspirational mantras that we can use to return home to ourselves.

    What struck me first and foremost was when I read “Just because you made mistakes doesn’t mean you are forever defined by them. Just because you took an unauthentic path doesn’t mean that you must stay the course.” So often we feel guilt and shame over our past mistakes, and we continue to beat ourselves up about them. Through the author’s insight, there is the dawning realisation that mistakes will be made, we will at times be unfaithful to our true self, we will make mistakes and choices that don’t accord with our deep self, but that these are learning points and not shameful events that we must punish ourselves over with again and again. What doesn’t work, the choices that we make that aren’t true to our nature and our own will: these can often tell us so much about how we should be in the world. What doesn’t work can be our greatest teacher.

    The “Dreamer Girl”, that authentic part of the self that the author shares with us, resonated deeply with me. I have my own Dreamer Girl, a time before I was inundated with the world’s opinions on how I should be, where I should be, what I should be doing. I have been returning to my Dreamer Girl over these last few years, and a feeling of “coming home to myself” has been strong. Our true selves are always with us. My Dreamer Girl has always been there, and it’s through paying attention to ourselves that we can rediscover that part of our being. Take good care of your “Dreamer Girl”, for it is a part of you that can be your guiding light in the world. I know she is mine.

    The author also touches upon a subject regarding how women are often pressured to give and give until there’s nothing left. We must be selfless in order to be worthy. But how she phrased it, by showing us that selfless means “less of self” we can begin to understand how this is not a sustainable way of being. We must learn to take care of ourselves, set clear boundaries that are in accord with our authentic selves, and listen to ourselves. “The practice of True Self-Worth is one of the most transformative practices I’ve cultivated on the journey. It has empowered me to make choices by heart, according to my core values and beliefs, rather than by societal standards or the expectations of others.” She talks about not throwing good energy at bad situations, and how to keep toxic elements out of our lives by protecting ourselves with our own inner guardians.

    When we are portraying a false or fake image of ourselves, we are unable to make true, authentic connection. When we are being authentic and true, that’s when the real connection happens and you are able to see it spreading out into the wider world. Your own genuine connections will be stronger for it, for people will be connecting to the true you, not the person you are pretending to be on any given day. Those genuine connections are where love sits deeply and comfortably, both in yourself and with others. “Know these acts of acceptance will lead to more significant surrenders that will bring unexpected joy and peace to your life.” The ability to love and be loved is when we are being our most authentic selves.

    Kindness creates peace, as the author so beautifully states. She also mentions how growth and healing are fluid processes, rather than being competitive in nature. “I promised right then and there to reserve ‘best ever’ status to recipes, not humans”. I also took away her words that “Someone else’s opinion is not my truth”. Words to live by.  I was also blown by the realisation that other people’s disappointments in me need not shatter my own peace and my own life. I feel that this may be a very powerful way of moving forward in my own life. She states “There’s no peace worth keeping if it requires me to betray myself and what I hold most dear.”  We have to be okay with other people’s disappointments in us. In fact, should this happen to me again, I will be using the quote “I am okay with your disappointment in me,” rather than betray a part of myself through sublimation.

    Every day our stories are being written. Every day we have an opportunity to show up in our life. This book is not a book about how to be perfect, but rather how to be a perfectly imperfect human being filled with grace and peace, leaning from the stepping stones of our past in order to walk awake and aware into our future. This moment, right now, is what matters most; not yesterday, not tomorrow, but this present moment. It’s the only moment we can truly show up for, in all honesty.

    We can all learn how to “walk differently in the world”. Taking steps that are right for us. Connecting with our deep sense of self, who we are, what we will and will not tolerate, what brings us peace and joy. We can make soul-deep connections that nurture and sustain us, rather than upset or drain us. By listening to our self, by being true to who we are, by coming into our own authenticity we can move forward as sovereign beings that make a real difference to the world, simply by showing up and being free.

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    Book Review: The Druid Path: A Modern Tradition of Nature Spirituality by John Michael Greer

    The Druid Path: A Modern Tradition of Nature Spirituality by John Michael Greer

    Published by Sterling Ethos, 2021

    This book is a great introduction to Druidry. I love a hardcover book, and this little gem published by Sterling Ethos is a really nice production. The corded cover with embossed title, the interior illustrations and the overall print quality is superb. We need more Pagan books that pay attention not only to the content, but also to the print quality and aesthetic! This book will last a long time, for sure. It’s in a nice almost square format too, which is different. It is an introductory book, so it doesn’t go into great length on any given subject, but it does cover all the essentials necessary to begin your path of Druidry.

    It is divided into four sections: Part One looks at the sources of Druidry, including the ancient Druids, the Druid Revival and Modern Druidry. This brief history of Druidry covers all the essentials, as well as some new things that I have never come across, including William Stukeley’s elephants (you’ll just have to read the book for more on that one). I am also pleased to see a section on Women in Druidry.

    Part Two looks at the Druid teachings, the different strands of Druidry and exercises to help one not just read about it, but also turn it into personal wisdom through experience. The section on “The Two Currents” I had not come across before in my own Druid learning. This chapter discusses the solar current and the earth’s telluric current and how to incorporate that into your practice.

    Part Three is the practice of Druidry, an essential section that really shows how Druidry is a living practice, something that must be done, not just read about. I especially like Greer’s words on Druidry as a craft:

    “Druidry is not an ideology. Like basketry, forestry, and many other words that end with –ry, it can be best understood as a craft. You don’t become a basket maker or a forester by believing some set of opinions. You become a basket maker by learning and practising basketry, and you become a forester by learning and practising forestry. In the same way, you become a Druid by learning and practicing the craft of Druidry. One of the things this means is that becoming a Druid isn’t an all-or-nothing matter. You start becoming a Druid as soon as you begin learning some elements of the Druid craft, and you keep on becoming a Druid as long as you keep studying and practicing that craft.”

    In this section, Greer also introduces us to divination through the Coelbren alphabet, which is not used as much as the Irish ogham taught by many other Druid authors, teachers and organisations. This chapter also gives you some more daily practices and a couple of rituals to get you started.

    Part four is about initiation into Druidry. The word initiation means “to begin” and so the ritual set out in this section provides the reader with a definitive point in time where they can say that they started out on the Druid path with directed intention to practice this craft to the best of their abilities. The self-initiation ritual is simple but poignant. Greer ends the book with the following words:

    “A more important source of guidance than books and organizations, however, is the time you spend working with the basic practices of Druidry, listening to the One Life, and learning from nature. No one can do that for you. The only thing that limits how much you can learn and grow on the adventure of Druidry is your own willingness to pursue it.”

    There is also a helpful glossary, bibliography, recommended resources and index.

    I was very pleased with this little book that holds much wisdom. I’d recommend it to anyone starting out on the Druid path who wants a concise introduction contained within a beautifully printed publication.

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    Book Review: Lisa Chamberlain’s Wicca for Beginners and Wicca Book of Spells

    I had already read a couple of Lisa Chamberlain’s books, (five, actually!) and so was very happy to review the new editions of Wicca for Beginners and Wicca Book of Spells. My favourites to date had been Wicca Finding Your Path: A Beginner’s Guide to Wiccan Traditions, Solitary Practitioners, Eclectic Witches, Covens, and Circles and especially the audio version of Wicca Living a Magical Life: A Guide to Initiation, Self-Dedication and Navigating Your Journey in the Craft. These new editions from The Mystic Library (Sterling Publishing) did not disappoint.

    First of all, I LOVE hardcover books. These little introductory books (they stand at around 130 – 160 pages) are beautifully bound in hardcover, with gorgeous artwork throughout. I love a book that also has illustrations and artwork, as I believe it’s important to engage the imagination and appreciate more than just the written word. Good artwork can lift a book, as anyone who has worked with colour correspondences alone can testify. Wicca for Beginners has a lovely blue theme running throughout, and Wicca Book of Spells a purple and pink theme. They are just so nice to hold in your hands, hardcovers. And they last a whole lot longer than paperbacks.

    Wicca Beginners GuideWicca for Beginners: A Guide to Wiccan Beliefs, Rituals, Magic and Witchcraft does just what it says on the tin. It’s a great guide for someone new to the path, or for anyone who wants to refresh their learning. In fact, if I were to recommend a beginner’s book to anyone new to the path, this book as well as Scott Cunningham’s works would be my first choice. Chamberlain goes into history of the tradition, which is something that Cunningham’s books are seriously lacking. She uses language that is easy and flowing, friendly and unassuming. I really like that in books that teach about anything, as I am easily put off with pomposity and obscurity.

    Indeed, this book covers everything neatly and precisely: how the path evolved, the history, core beliefs, working with the divine, the altar, tools and clothing, ritual components and magic, as well as advice for aspiring Wiccans. It really covers a lot of material in an easy to swallow format. The author has really done her research, and has walked her talk, sharing and expressing her knowledge with skill and clarity, as well as her plain common sense.

    Wicca Book of SpellsWicca Book of Spells: A Beginner’s Book of Shadows for Wiccans, Witches and Other Practitioners of Magic again covers a wide range of material. While a couple of paragraphs on what a Book of Shadows is would have been nice, this tome dives straight into spellwork such as love spells (with the usual caveats on manipulation of individuals), prosperity spells, health and well-being spells and an eclectic mix of spellwork in the final chapter that includes kitchen witchery, elemental magic and more. Again, there is common sense and a good framework throughout this book to help the reader on their forays into the realms of spellcrafting. One small critique is that I would like to know if the spells included in the book are traditional, or if the inspiration came from somewhere historically. I have no qualms in new spells vs old spells, and I am a strong believer in working with what you’ve got to hand. This information may have been left out in the editing process, to keep the book to a size that works for beginners, though this is purely conjecture on my part. The spells were easy to follow and understand, and Chamberlain, like myself, is not averse to substitutions to make it work on a more personal level.

    All in all, I found both these books really charming, and well written. Lisa Chamberlain was a pleasure to correspond with as well via email, and I look forward to more of her work in the future. I think she is a real asset to the Wiccan community, providing good information delivered in a friendly manner that everyone can understand and work with on any level. If you are just starting out, or know someone who is, or simply want to add to your book hoard of good books, then look up Lisa Chamberlain and her work – I recommend it all.

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    Book Review: Your Moontime Magic

    It may seem strange, after just having a hysterectomy to be writing a review for a book about menstruation, but I had wanted to review this book before I knew I was to have this surgery. Maureen Theresa Smith’s Your Moontime Magic: A Girl’s Guide to Getting Your Period and Loving Your Body is a great little book that I wish I had in my hands when I first began menstruating. Though I’d had all the facts, and had support from my family and doctor, still my periods were a difficult and painful time, every month, since the age of eleven (I’m now 45, going on 46). Perhaps this book could have helped me, at least in a spiritual sense, to come to terms with my monthly periods when I was younger, the pain and the release, the cycles within cycles.

    Published by New World Library, this book was previously released as First Moon in 2005. However, the information and advice go far beyond the first moon, and can help you throughout your life in working with your cycle, or helping someone else understand and see the spiritual nature of this women’s journey.

    My own journey began early, a couple of months before my twelfth birthday (I had not yet started high school). Very painful, each month they would put me out of commission for a few days until I got some high dosage painkillers from my doctor when I was fourteen, and then later put on the pill when I was fifteen (for medical reasons). But when I went off the pill when I was 21, everything came back just as before. Little did I know that I suffered from endometriosis, as well as fibroids and ovarian cysts later in life (which is why I had to have a hysterectomy this year). Getting my period each month was a lot of work, both mentally and physically, as I prepared myself for the pain and the hassle of trying to deal with this and also with life in general.

    Had I set up a spiritual practice around this monthly cycle, perhaps things might have been different. Your Moontime Magic definitely could help with that – it is filled not only with biological facts and information, but also rituals, crafts and imaginative ways of working with your monthly cycle. It discusses the oft taboo subjects of PMS and body changes, as well as going deeper into self-image and how that creates the world that you inhabit in this body. What I especially enjoyed was the fact that Smith included things like how your dreams change when you menstruate, how to work with that and allow them to inspire your own creativity. She also talks about how your friendships will change and grow as you develop into your own power as a woman, connecting to your power as well as connecting to nature. She uses language that is easy to understand, and it’s like having a chat with your cool aunt at the dining table about all these things.

    If you have a daughter who is coming to this time in her life, or know someone who is, I highly recommend this book. It is also helpful to have others in the family read it, to understand more about women’s cycles and what they go through in their lives. It teaches us to take care of ourselves, our physical and inner selves, and to shine – “like the moon, there are times when you can be hidden from the world, and times when you can shine full and bright”.

    Blessings to all women out there, wherever you are in your life’s journey.