| Nonfiction |
[29 Mar 2008|08:30pm] |
Earth Spirit Living: Bringing Heaven And Nature Into Your Home
by Ann Marie Holmes.
Copyright 2006
Atria Books through Simon and Schuster
ISBN 1-58270-150-4 (10 digit) / 978-1-58270-150-9 (13 digit)
As soon as I saw it listed on Amazon, during one of my many browse-throughs, I knew I had to give this one a read. I have not been disappointed. Ms. Holmes discusses how to use one's intuition to work with nature and place to create a harmonious environment. She gives examples of how to work with nature spirits and other beings present, describes the different kinds of energy one may encounter (such as ley lines and vortexes), and incorporates elements of feng shui in a very easy to understand manner. Her tone is straight forward but kind, with an emphasis on working with the earth and your own natural energies.
In my opinion, this book deserves an A+. It's well done, seems complete within its subject matter, with techniques and exercises that are quite usable.
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[25 Jan 2008|01:17pm] |
Hi! Do you keep a Reading or Book Live Journal? Would you like to meet other people who do, in order to make new LJ Friends, and discuss literature, or share common interests? Check out ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif) addmy_readinglj in order to do so! (:
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[17 Jan 2008|03:09pm] |
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the term 'fluffy bunny' and 'True Wiccan/Pagan' get tossed around a lot. Admittedly, I do like reading material that is easy to read and understand while still sticking to facts. Does that make me a fluff bunny? I know some in both circles who claim that unless you sit down with the hardcore esoteric stuff and study it then you are indeed a fluff.
What's your opinion on this? What authors/books do you consider uselessly fluffy or over the top abstruse and inaccessible? what makes either category the way it is?
Things I have read: Scott Cunningham, Starhawk, Z. Budapest, Yasmine Galenorn, Christopher Penczak, Patricia Telesco, Laurie Cabot, Raven Grimassi, Caitlin Matthews, Amber K , and Silver Ravenwolf. I will with much embarassment admit to having read Fiona horne's stuff as well.
Two things: That I have read these books does not mean I think they are all perfect and wonderful and "OMG Teh Troothz of All!" Just means I've read them :)
Secondly, I do realise that my prhasing of things in this may meet with some critique. I'm willing to accept that.
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| Would like Your Opinions on Thomas Dale Cowan/ book by him |
[09 Dec 2007|10:19am] |
Author of Shamanism As a Spiritual Practice for Daily Life.
Well-researched?
Does he have a good rep with you?
Or would you personally categorize him as "fluffy?"
Does he know what he's talking about?
Is this book more basic baby steps, or is it suitable as a Yule gift for an experienced practitioner who'd like to add to their repertoire of spiritual disciplines and healing techniques?
Are there any good exercises, info, or tips in the book that makes it worth getting even if it also has negative qualities?
The intended recipient recently attended a workshop by Kristen Madden and found it very very basic, but didn't come away with a wholly negative opinion of Ms. Madden.
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| Wednesday, October 31st, 2007 |
[31 Oct 2007|09:40am] |
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Wishing all my lovely sisters and brothers in the craft and friends alike a very blessed, joyous and holiday!
A Merry & Blessed Sawhain ~ Happy Halloween ~ Happy New Year!
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[30 Oct 2007|04:06pm] |
i was listening to an NPR interview here with Paul Collins, last weekend on the Saturday Weekend Edition.
they were discussing Halloween books as a theme and the guest brought up an out of print book from 1919 called "Living Alone", which is a fiction book about witches.
i found a review of it here and you can get a free copy to download from this site. i know that it still deals with the witch stereotype, however it's a lot of fun and very well written. it's has a nice, quirky pace and is less hostile than say, John Updike's "Witches of Eastwick".
let me know if you liked it.
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| Blessed Summer Solstice ~ Midsummer ~ Litha |
[21 Jun 2007|09:43am] |
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mood |
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chipper |
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The longest day of the year and the zenith of solar power across the Earth. This is a time of the wild and fertile Green Man - the flourishing Oak God and the manifestation of growth and maturity. It is a time of perfection, the mystical marriage of God and Goddess. And yet it is also a time of sadness, because it markes the point at which the days will start to shorten again. When the sun is at its brightest, it casts the deepest shadows.
May the magic of Litha be always with you.
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| Wonder Of Witchcraft |
[03 Apr 2007|08:20pm] |
NON-FICTION
Title: The Wonder Of Witchcraft
Author: Sage Weston
2002, ISBN 186163220-7
Content: Excellent artfully written study of the essential and soulful aspects of witchcraft. Her style is easy to read yet flowing throughout with "deeper nuggets" of insight into both the practice of witchcraft and the nature of witches in general. The only problem I had with the book was a statement that *seemed* (by lack of clarification perhaps) to associate black candles *exclusively* with Satanism and *black* magick in a chapter on white versus black magick. This may not have been the author's intent, but a clarification would have been appreciated if the exclusive association was not intended. I use black candles quite frequently, and don't associate them with *evil* energies at all, but rather with mystical peaceful energies of renewal. That, perhaps unintended, association is the only issue I have with this book. Holistically however, I was greatly impressed and spiritually nourished by the ideas in the work. I found it to be a wonderfully enjoyable read. I highly recommend it.
Rating: A
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| NON FICTION: Plants of Love: The History of Aphrodisiacs Guide to their Identification and Use |
[17 Mar 2007|07:23am] |
NON-FICTION : "Plants of Love: The History of Aphrodisiacs, and A Guide to Their Identification and Use", by Christian Ratsch, 1997 10 Speed Press, ISBN 089815-928-8 $19.95 (US)
CONTENT: Christian Ratsch has done it again with his wonderfully illustrated guide to yet another aspect of all things herbal. He pulls together the appropriate amounts of history, monographs including pictures that would help someone identify the plant in the wild. There are over a thousand plants that through history have been or are still being used as aphrodisiacs, and Ratsch rarely shies away from the frank discussion of any of them. He presents the information both interesting and shares enough knowledge to be of interest to the layperson, the Witch, as well as the scholar or the practising herbalist.
As far as books on the topic of Aphrodisiacs and their uses, Ratsch does the best job of any that I have seen. Far too many either get into debunking as to why these plants have been or are still useful, or they throw alot of urban legend into the mix without qualifying the information. Such practices cause plants (and even some animals) to be used in the process of trying to induce an erotic state or increase virility or fertility; some to the point of endangerment. Thankfully Ratsch is very conscious of this problem.
There are recipes for infusions, ointments, incenses and brews that are sure to entice. I was disappointed that Nymphaea caerulea or Blue "Lotus" (which is actually a blue water lily) was not included. I have tinctured and worked with this plant extensively and was very surprised, especially with its symbology and history that there was no discussion of it. There is a small bit of information about Nelumbo nucifera or true Lotus, which is native to India and Asia that was very inclusive - as were most of all of the other entries.
RATING: B+ My only disappointment is that there is not even more in this book. There is a frank and extended discussion of even more plants in his latest book, including the ones that I was disappointed not seeing in this one, "Psychoactive Plants" which I am currently reading and will most probably be reviewing next. I definitely recommend "Plants of Love" as a great addition to any Witch's herbal library, however.
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| Satan and Sex Manias |
[06 Feb 2007|02:11am] |
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Satan and Sex Manias - Moral Panics and the Mob Mind ~Part One Lila Rajiva ~ Greed, fear, envy, anger -- the mob is usually driven mad by the vices. But almost as often, it can go out of its mind from fits of virtue as well. It seems as though even morality, when it is taken up by a mass of unthinking human beings, becomes corrupt.
Recommended reading
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| NON-FICTION : Faery Teachings by Orion Foxwood |
[09 Nov 2006|12:25pm] |
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Tangerine Dream - A Matter of Time |
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The book that has had the greatest impact on me lately is one I read by Orion Foxwood titled The Faery Teachings.
( Rating = A, Read Full Review? )
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| Dead Names, by Simon |
[29 Sep 2006|05:53pm] |
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Nightwish - Sleeping Sun |
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'Dead Names; The Dark History of the Necronomicon' is a book i just finished. now dont just pass this one up because it says necronomicon, ive heard everyones critique on how it makes people crazy or that its incomplete, he says that in the book itself. This book has is not more necronomicon invocations, not more pages of words with more constanants in a row than the alphabet, it IS a very good theology lesson though. The first half of this book explains how 'simon' (a pseudonym) came across the greek manuscript of the sumerian book, about the thieves who stole old books and the like from libraries and colleges, and about a man named Andrew Prazky (a man who made himself an official arch-bishop of a church he created). The second half of this book is a good defense case for the necronomicon, in that simon finally explains the translation, the individuals involved, and expands on how the sumerian religion did survive. The second half also involves what i would call one of the best theology lessons i've ever read, but its scattered throughout. As a Theology scholar and a Pagan i give this book an 8 out of 10.
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| Magical Reads |
[12 Sep 2006|12:42pm] |
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Kore Chant/ Reclaiming |
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While I was whiling away a virus this weekend, I happened to randomly pick up and read 2 different fictional books that included fairly useful views of psychic talent, ceremonial and other magic: The Adept by Kurtz and Turner, and The Inheritor by M. Z. Bradley. The interesting thing about these books is that, among all the expected drama, they include useful information about things that may happen to untrained psychics, elements of psychic and magical training, stuff like that. Not lots of detail, mind you, but some useful stuff-- enough that I want to add a section to my booklist for useful fiction, and recommend these and other books to students who want extra sources to study. I'll probably add at least some of Fortune's fiction, what I've read-- but I'd like to see what others find useful.
What useful fiction would you recommend to a student (of magic, paganism, or witchcraft), and why?
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| calling all bookworms.... |
[12 May 2006|12:37pm] |
Check this place out! It's for your personal library in general, but what a treasure trove for finding communities to discuss your favorite witchy/pagan/related books, not to mention book reviews. Thought it would be a good resource for members.
http://www.librarything.com/
Here’s my profile, if you'd like to drop by.
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[26 Feb 2006|10:45am] |
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Celebrating the Southern Seasons: Rituals for Aotearoa by Juliet Batten 1995 and updated and reprinted in 2005
This is one of the very few Pagan orientated books written by a Kiwi for Kiwis. It was first published in 1995 and has been updated and republished 2005, while this book is not directly aimed at Modern Pagans it has become the classic Pagan text in New Zealand.
The book is set out in the following the eight seasonal sabbats.
It contains information and ritual customs for each of the eight sabats, from Europe, England, New Zealand, (the Maori) and now the Pacific Island and Asia. Juliet provides history background of how the different rituals began, how they transformed and how they are celebrated today. And also provides the reader with ideas about how to introduce seasonal celebrations and ritual into their own life.
For the New Zealander this book is great as the dates printed match the seasons as well as the astronomical information, and Maori names for important stars and constellations in the southern skys. The information about local fauna and flora is both relevant and helpful for budding ritual makers as old hands as well.
For overseas readers this book gives an interesting insight (if somewhat romantic) view of other spiritual customs and rituals that can be found in New Zealand with particular emphasis on Maori customs. Did you know the Maori celebrated there new year when the star Puanga, from the constellation known as Orion, became clearly visible over the eastern horizon. This happened after the first new moon between May and June. Juliet also did a lot of research into Maori customs and has express permission from Maori elders to publish the Maori customs and information.
The only bad side to this books that I can think of is the tendency to romanticise the customs and life of the Maori and Pacific cultures, but then this is also apart of the appeal as well.
Here is a link to Juliet Batten’s thoughts on re-writing the Southern Seasons.
I give this book an A+ both the original and its updated version.
Ps.. i am new to this community..so i though i would start with a book from where i live..*grins*
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| Fiction: Mortal Love by Elizabeth Hand |
[22 Feb 2006|12:30pm] |
Mortal Love by Elizabeth Hand
Synopsis:: "Elizabeth Hand explores the theme of artistic inspiration and its dangerous devolvement into obsession and madness through three interwoven narrative threads in this superb dark fantasy novel. In late Victorian England, American painter Radborne Comstock makes the acquaintance of Evienne Upstone, a model who's inspired members of the pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and driven painter Jacobus Candell completely insane. More than half a century later, Radborne's grandson Valentine ends up institutionalized after viewing intensely erotic paintings that his grandfather produced under Evienne's spell. His experiences echo those of Daniel Rowlands, an American writer in contemporary London whose research into the legend of Tristan and Iseult brings him into contact with Larkin Meade, a fey lover whose passion leaves him physically and emotionally deranged."
I'm not going to beat around the bush. I absolutely devoured Mortal Love. Elizabeth Hand has long been my favorite author, and even when I read work from her that I didn't care for, I could never deny that it was exquisitely written. This novel was no exception.
( Read more... )
Grade: A-
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| Nonfiction: The Love Spell by Phyllis Curott |
[19 Jul 2005|07:50pm] |
NONFICTION (Memoir)
Title: The Love Spell: An Erotic Memoir of Spiritual Awakening
Author: Phyllis Curott
Rating: C-
This book was the least erotic book about sexuality I've ever read. I think that Phyllis Curott has a lot of wisdom and insight to offer the Wiccan/Pagan community, and I will gladly praise "Witch Crafting" to no end. However, Curott's prose books have been disappointing and uneven at best. It's too dreamlike, never quite alive and vital.
( Reviewed. )
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| Tags |
[20 Jun 2005|11:11am] |
There is a new LJ feature that's just been released: Tags for journal entries. Read more here.
I'm starting to put together some tag keywords for this community. If you would like to make a suggestion, here's your opportunity!
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