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.

A Pine Protection Spell

The spell below is one that I provided to my Patreon community. Each month, I post a different spell or information relating to spellcraft, alongside other offerings such as herbcraft, Book of Shadows material (rituals, info, etc.) personal updates via video and more. If you are interested in joining me on my Patreon page and supporting my work, please click the following link: https://www.patreon.com/joannavanderhoeven

A Pine Protection Spell

This is a simple spell that you can use for protection. It can be for yourself, the home, the car or anywhere you feel an extra added protection bonus is necessary. This protection spell requires a pine cone, and so the size will matter depending on how you wish to have it function. If it’s for personal protection and made to be carried around, a small pinecone that you can fit in your pocket or handbag is ideal. Slightly bigger ones can be used for the car, and even bigger ones in the home. As always, use what is available to you in your area, and make sure that you have permission to collect the pine cones both from the landowner and the parent tree itself when foraging.

What you will need:

A pinecone (or several, for protecting a larger area)

Red thread (if hanging them up to protect a larger area)

After collecting your pine cone/s, wait for a bright, sunny day. Hold the pine cone/s out in your hands and let it absorb the light of the sun. See and feel the sunlight streaming down into the cone, infusing it with its strength. Then, say these or similar words:

Cone of strength

Cone of power

I enchant you

In this hour

Light of sun

Strength of tree

Protect me now

And blessed be

You can repeat this chant three, seven or nine times, for extra oomph to the spell. Then, either carry the pine cone on your person, or if you have a large cone or several cones, tie them up with red thread and hang in a prominent space in the home. You can tie several together should you so wish. If you need something more discreet for the home,  place them in a nice bowl instead, where they will still work their magic and look decorative. If you are using this for travel protection in your car, ensure that you still have a fairly small cone that you can hang from the rearview mirror, and one that will not impede your view in any direction.

Add extra energy to this spell by spritzing the area with a pine needle and/or bark infusion. See the previous herbcraft post on Scots Pine for full instructions on how to make and use a pine infusion.

New Video: The Deer Rut 2023

After many, many hours spent out on the heath with the deer, here is my offering of the deer rut this year. I hope you like it, and find them just as magical as I do 🙂

New Video: Beloved Autumn and Samhain

I’ve just uploaded a new video onto my YouTube channel: “Beloved Autumn and Samhain”. I hope you like it 🙂

Another turn of the wheel…

t’s been a year since The Path of the Hedge Witch came out! Where has the time gone? I’m nearly finished writing up the sequel, which hopefully will be available this time next year 🙂 Thank you to everyone who has supported me and my work. All the wonderful comments, emails, reviews and messages make me filled with gratitude for being able to share my experiences with you. Here’s to another year!

(And the audiobook cover)

The Goddess, Andraste

New video now up on my YouTube channel! A personal look at a local goddess I am working with deeply.

New Video!

Well, I decided to get the drone out, regardless of the weather and the wind. I went into the forest, where there was some shelter, and thought I’d put into images what I wrote in my last blog post. So, enjoy!

Whispers of the Moon

I’ve been a fan of Enya for over 30 years. I wrote this song for her, filled with the images of water which her music invokes in me whenever I hear it.
I had a 45 minute window to shoot this video, before I lost the light. It was cold, already at 0-C and falling quickly. The clouds cleared a half hour beforehand, and I was so delighted to see the full moon rising from the receding clouds on the eastern horizon over the North Sea. It was pure magic.
Blessings of the Moon to you all. xoxo

New Video: Spiritual Downtime

It’s okay to take a break 🙂

The Audiobook is Here!

The new audiobook (the first version didn’t meet the criteria) of The Path of the Hedge Witch is now available on Audible! I am so very pleased with the narration by Coleen Marlo. And the cover even has a cat on it. Purrrfect!

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Path-Hedgewitch-Simple-Natural-Riding/dp/B0BT36ZS9J