As some of you may know from a previous review, I simply love Val Thomas’ Of Chalk and Flint and have been recommending it to pretty much everyone I meet. This year we have a new offering from Val, which is all about the Hallowtide, that liminal period from Samhain and into November. The book is called Hallowtide: A Dark Devotional and is available from Troy Books.

It felt a little strange to be reading about it in the thick of the Beltane season, but it also provided a nice contrast and, as usual, Val gives us plenty to think about in her prosaic words. We follow Val and her thoughts through Samhain to Martinmas, on the 11^th of November. Past reminisces, thoughts of the future and what is happening around her in the present moment all contribute to a wonderfully ethereal, in-between space where words seems to come out of the shadows of the season and then fall silently back, captured in the cobwebs of the mind to be used later. It is full of lore, and Val is a veritable font of information as she has walked this path and doesn’t just talk the talk. This writing comes from a deep well of experience, decades of it, and you can see from her words that witchcraft is her very soul.

Some of her stories will have you smiling, recalling similar events in your life. Others may bring tears to your eyes, as this is a time of farewells for so many as we honour our dead. There is folklore, herbcraft, ritual inspiration, poetry and philosophy all wrapped into a beautiful, meaningful work. At the end of the book are nine dark devotionals that you can perform during this tide: insightful and deep work excellent for this time of year.

Once again, I highly recommend Val’s work, so don’t wait until Samhain and the Hallowtide: get your copy now!!!