The Path of the Witch by Lidia Pradas
This is a wonderful book for beginners. The book discusses different types of witches. It may help baby witches identify what classification of witch they may or may not be. I enjoyed reading the book. It was an easy read. I recommend reading The Path of the Witch by Lidia Pradas
Book Title and Author:
Capricorn Witch by Ivo Dominguez, Jr. and Maria Wander
Status? : Finished
My overall rating of the book : 6/10
How does this book relate to my magickal practice?:
I mean Iâm a Capricorn, soâŚ
My personal thoughts/opinions:
This is a series from Llewellyn on each of the sun signs and witchcraft. I found Capricorn Witch to be ⌠ok. I wanted it to be more than what it was. I think the parts that I liked best were the correspondences to the sun sign. There were short additions from authors who are also Capricorns, which was a nice touch. But for me, I donât know what I was expecting, but this was a little too light on the witchcraft and heavy on the astrology. But I bet someone more experienced in astrology would say itâs too light on astrology. A lot of the content seemed repetitive and somehow talking in circles to take up space. So I think itâs trying to be many things to many people and then became too generic, if that makes sense.
All in all, would I recommend this book?: Not really
Book Title and Author:
Everyday Witchcraft: Making Time for Spirit in a Too-Busy World
by Deborah Blake
Status? : Finished
My overall rating of the book : 9/10
How does this book relate to my magickal practice?:
I chose this book as I knew that this fall will bring on more side work for me in addition to my full time job, and I wanted to learn more how to integrate my practice in small ways even when Iâm stressed or donât have a lot of time for me personally.
My personal thoughts/opinions:
Iâve read other books by Deborah Blake and enjoy her style. She is too the point, funny, and written very simply. This is an easy to read book, not dense at all. But has great little ideas throughout it about integrating ritual and practice into things like housework, time outdoors, snuggles with your dog, etc. I appreciate all these ideas which you can take one or two that you like and try them out and see if you want to make them a part of your daily, weekly, or monthly routine. Now a warning, she is a Wiccan through and through, so if you arenât there are parts that may bristle you - talk of the goddess, Wiccan rede, etc. But I was able to easily breeze over these and consume the content of the book. Her reading list and resources at the end are in the format of an annotated bibliography, which I love (meaning she has a short description of each book she lists, which gives me a great idea of whether I would like to go ahead and get the book or pass it over).
I also like this book because it helps me to integrate several parts of myself. Eg. the spiritual me with the professional me with the recreational me, etc. This allows me to integrate sometimes almost invisible (to others) short practices within my workday or as I wake up so that I donât have to separate my spiritual side with my other sides.
All in all, would I recommend this book?:
Absolutely for a practitioner who is burnt out, or super busy, or wanting a light read with lots of ideas to put into practice. 
Book Title and Author: The Path of the Sacred Hermit by Avallach Emrys
Status?: Finished
My overall rating of the book: 10/10
How does this book relate to my magickal practice?: While I donât have any interest in being a Pagan Monastic (like a monk or nun), Iâve always enjoyed a structured religious and spiritual routine.
My personal thoughts/opinions: This book was a very quick read with short, concise chapters. Thereâs not a lot of filler, which I fully appreciated, and so much information is packed into smaller chapters. The author does exactly what he sets out to do - he lays the foundation and groundwork for someone to begin their own monastic practice, whether on their own or with a community.
An interesting quote from the book: âMonastic spiritual practice is an important aspect of many religious traditions, including Paganism. For Pagans, monasticism serves as a way to deepen oneâs connection with the divine, as well as to cultivate a sense of discipline and focus in oneâs spiritual life.â
I chose this quote because it really hits home on something Iâve been feeling lately - a lack of discipline within myself and my spiritual practice. Sometimes I let my daily things get in the way of my spiritual practice, and thatâs not something I have ever wanted to happen.
All in all, would I recommend this book?: Yes, if youâre interested in more daily devotion and structure to your religious practice.
A more in-depth book review is available on my website.
Book Title and Author: Brigid: History, Mystery, & Magick of the Celtic Goddess
Status? : Finished!!! 
My overall rating of the book : 10/10
How does this book relate to my magickal practice?: I work with Brigid regularly, well⌠just about daily & was re-reading the book to kind of reinforce & review my knowledge of Her. 
My personal thoughts/opinions: I love 
this book on Brigid. It has a lot of history & includes stories, tales, & working with Her even through/after the crossover when Christianity came through the land.
An interesting quote from the book: âReflection: Change is necessary. All things must grow & adapt or else perish. This is how our vulnerable species survived over hundreds of thousands of years. Likewise, we as individuals must adapt to cultural shifts & changes in our own lives or face death within ourselves. When changes are imminent & uncomfortable, like the discomfort in the early time of spring, how can we adapt ourselves so that we too can grow?â (page 155)
All in all, would I recommend this book?: Yes. Absolutely 
â I added a new book to the book club 
Book Title and Author: Into Shadow - The Tallan Chronicles by Morgan Daimler
Status: Finished
My overall rating of the book : 8/10
How does this book relate to my magickal practice?: The setting is in a human +other creature world with dragons, selfies, elves, mages who all have different powers. The premise the magick is based on is interesting and thought provoking and deals a lot with intention and building a better world and having allies.
My personal thoughts/opinions: This book deals with an unlikely hero, Muireann who started out seeking revenge but ended up saving the world â overweight, middle aged, smart, Bi- woman with glasses, with multiple lovers (polyamorous). There is a quest, an unlikely group of friends, smart winning out over brawn, dark skinned elves, and survivors guilt on multiple levels. Quite a lot to pack into such a small book.
All in all, would I recommend this book?: Yes. Although itâs not perfect writing style for me, itâs a good release for a magickal fiction world in the science fiction/fantasy genre which is always a good, light summer read. With only 376 pages, it would take a day or two to read or the equivalent of about 10 hours and is definitely very different than your normal fantasy fiction read.
July 21!
Iâm not going to finish Keldens book, itâs good, but Iâve got distracted. I have however finished 2 books. So hereâs the review for those. This is typical of me, start 1 book but finish another.
Book 1 Pagan Portals Loki by Dagulf Loptson
This is brilliant. Itâs short but full of information. It describes who Loki is without any bias to whether heâs good or bad. Itâs very balanced on the stories, but also how these gods are modern and move with the generations that follow them. The rituals are simple and effective and have helped me to bond with Loki. (You can read the book just for knowledge). He does use blood Magick in the book, but offers replacements if youâre uncomfortable with this. The book comes with a warning:
âThose who shun Loki arenât necessarily afraid of him for no reason. Loki is a trickster and an agent of change, which can be unpredictable and terrifying. The transformation he brings may be internal or external, and in calling Lokiâs presence into your life you may lose parts of yourself along the way that you thought were vital and important. However, Lokiâs tricks always serve a purpose, and if his challenges are met with bravery instead of fear we may find ourselves becoming something greater than we were before. Before you go in to deep, now is the time to ask yourself: am I ready for change? With all of that said, I hope you enjoy this humble attempt to introduce you to God who ruled my heart.â
I personally found this a very real introduction to the God who now ârules my heartâ. It isnât your typical Loki is bad, Odin is good kind of book. It highlights the complexity of Loki, neither dark nor light but everything in between. I found this a great starting point if your thinking about the Norse path and Loki in particular.
Book 2 The Gods Own Country A Heathen Prayer Book by Dan Coultas &Heathens of Yorkshire.
I found this by âaccidentâ whilst perusing the web for information on Norse/Saxon mythology. This is a lovely book of prayers, songs, rituals, and festivals to honour the Norse Godâs in todayâs life. Itâs filled with great artwork, and beautiful prayers/poetry that I have found very soothing.
The purpose of the book is best stated by itself:
ââŚto provide the heathen community as a whole with what we sincerely hope will be a useful resource in putting together their own rituals. âŚto honour our Gods and Goddesses, the wights and the ancestors.â
So thatâs it. I read everything except what I was supposed to. Got stuck on the witchfather bit of Keldens book, but Iâll go back to it. Happy reading 
Book Title and Author: Sorgitzak, Old Forest Craft by Veronica Cummer
Status?: Finished
My overall rating of the book: 9/10
How does this book relate to my magickal practice?: The spirit is here, the practice is the British Priest and Priestess style and not for the solitary witch
My personal thoughts/opinions: In my never ending search for the âold waysâ this is a step in the right direction. The energy in the beginning is intense and you donât want to put it down. She speaks of the old blood and the fact that we all have it to some degree. She speaks of and to the old gods, the ones before Egypt and European. This took me back to things I knew and have forgotten, to times I should remember but are lost for now
An interesting quote from the book: âthe Blood is in everyoneâsome know it, some do not.Some refuse the knowledge of it. It must be awakened. Some refuse to be open to it. The Blood can be awakened in anyone open to it."
She speaks of gods and energies for all points on the wheel, many I have not heard of, always in a duality. Many rituals and meditations most requiring a oven or a priest and priestess
All in all, would I recommend this book?: Yes, to anyone wishing knowledge in the OLD ways
Book Title and Author: The Wee Free Men by: Sir Terry Pratchett
Status? : Still Reading
My overall rating of the book : 10/10 so far!
How does this book relate to my magickal practice?: Itâs a good read; not only a mostly fictional work but there is a lot to learn from the story itself. Following the main characters on their journey of learning & the situations can help me relate to different things & their relevance of them to my own.
My personal thoughts/opinions: I especially enjoy the way this book is written & presentation of the characters. Itâs an easy read & very not lighthearted but brings joy & some wonder while I am reading. So I easily get lost in the pages.
An interesting quote from the book: âWitches donât like to be seen running. It looks unprofessional.â (pg 18)
â Side Note: Iâm using this the next time my doctor asks me about exercise 
All in all, would I recommend this book?: Yes for a different perspective. For me the entire reason I started reading the book is part of a course & I have a question to answer about the book for the course. Otherwise, I never even would have known about the book 
I have a little bit more to go, but Iâm definitely enjoying the read.
I nearly forgot to post my review! Oopsy.
Book Title and Author: Maiden, Mother, and Crone by DJ Conway.
Status: Finished
My overall rating of the book: 8/10
How does this relate to my magical practice: I want to learn more about the Triple Goddess.
My personal thoughts, and opinions of the book: This is a good book for someone starting out on their path, with information on the Maiden, Mother, and Crone and the different myths behind those faces.
An interesting quote in the book: âMyths are maps that lead to spiritual understanding of humankindâs position in the universe, and the relationship of humankind to the powers we call gods and goddesses. These stories also hold clues to understanding ourselves.â
All in all, would I recommend this book: Yes.
My review of Oaths and Vows by Ksenia Menshikova.
First, her knowledge of how magic works, elements, the spirit world is immense. Itâs equivalent to the Masters that teach at the College of Psychic Studies. I am impressed.
Sheâs slowly putting the material she covers in her school into books. Itâs a Russian school on a par with the College of Psychic Studies, but doesnât offer as broad a curriculum. Her writing style is clear and easy to understand, and for any terms that are odd, she gives an explanation. The book has a Q&A format included in each chapter, which is helpful as it shows her students learning and how they resolved issues.
This book deals with the importance of honouring oaths and vows to the gods, the backlash effect of magic, what happens if you break a vow, how to switch from one path to another, and the elements. It talks mostly of the Norse Gods and how they work, and its focus is the Northern Tradition, both of Britain, North European, Scandinavian and Slavic.
My only gripe with the book is her view on the âAbrahamic Traditionâ which includes Judaism, Christianity and Islam. She splits magic into 2 pathways: Spirit & Blood.
Spirit is the Abrahamic, Hindu and Buddhist traditions, and Blood is the pagans. The difference is to do with how the âservantâ of the pathway interacts with their gods and ancestors.
Sheâs very negative about the Abrahamic pathway, and I donât know the history of Russia, but personally I feel this wasnât necessary. Yes, the God of Abraham doesnât share his worship with other gods and idols, but from a magical perspective, alot of practices incorporate Christianity and the bible in their magic, without issue either for themselves, or any gods. After awhile it irritated me, her constant bash against one tradition.
I have others of her books, which I will read because her knowledge of the craft is second to none. But if you do read this, just be aware she really doesnât like Christians!
I just finished reading my book today~! Here is my review on it 
Book: Sweet of Love: An Anthology for Bast and Bast-Mut
Author: Chelsea Luellon Bolton
Status?: Finished
My overall rating of the book: 10
How does this book relate to my magickal practice?: I worship Bastet so this book is very important for me in my practice.
My personal thoughts/opinions: There is a good amount of information on Bast and Bast-Mut within the pages of this lovely book~! The book is easy to read and explains everything in a clear and simple manner. I also enjoyed the hymns and poems, which I plan on using in my spells and meditations with Bastet.
An interesting quote from the book:
âPlayful Cat
Joyful Lady
With flaming sword
Warrior with a shield
Warrior with a Scimitar
Fiery Goddess of Sun and Star
Lady of Power, Lady of Passion
Bright Lady of Fire and Sun
Bast, the Lady of the Two Lands
Lady of Joy and Strength
Lady of Art and Creationâs Bliss
Lady of Music, Lady of Dance
As the tambourine is played
Bast dances with Her followers
Bast dances and people are in joy
Jewelry adorns the Goddess
Fine linen for Her clothes
Abundance in food and water
The finer things in life
Passion, Beauty and Power
There is Power in Beauty
There is Passion in Strength
There is Beauty in Powerâ(Poem: Power, Beauty, Passion and Strength, Chapter 5: Poetry of Bast, Page 51)
All in all, would I recommend this book?: Absolutely~! This book is a great way to learn about Bastet and Bast-Mut, a syncretic fusion of the Goddesses Bastet and Mut.
Book Title and Author: Women of Tarot: An Illustrated History of Divinators, Card Readers, and Mystics by Cat Willett
Status? : Finished
My overall rating of the book : 10/10
How does this book relate to my magickal practice?: I am a tarot reader and enjoy learning the history behind the people who helped make it what it is today.
My personal thoughts/opinions: This book is not a âhow-toâ nor is it very academic at all â neither of those points is a bad thing, just to be clear. Whatâs most interesting about this book is that the author doesnât appear to be a witch or occultist at all! Her bio from her website says this: âCat Willett is a professional illustrator and published author who creates vibrant artwork for corporate brands and cultural institutions. Her illustrations often focus on themes of nature, parenting, mysticism, and travel.â
Anyway, the book does a wonderful job detailing the lives of some important women in tarot history including Rachel Pollack and Marie-Anne Lenormand. The illustrations bring the book to life in a vibrant way that keeps the reader engaged and flipping pages. I know I enjoyed the art style quite a bit!
Here are some pictures if youâd like to see them.
An interesting quote from the book: Not an interesting quote but the author does make a note toward the end of the book of some different notable femme and non-binary people who have also had an impact on tarot as we know it today.
All in all, would I recommend this book?: Yes
Book Title and Author: The Witchâs Path by Thorne Mooney
Status?: Finished
How does this book relate to my magickal practice?: I was looking for a book to elevate my practice to the next level and this was a great pick!**
My personal thoughts/opinions: This is a great book for both beginner and intermediate witches! I think it will really bring you a few new ideas for your practice!
An interesting quote from the book: âHow do you develop your Craft in the midst of regular working life? What about when youâre dealing with illness? How do you continue to study and learn when all you can think about is your boss, your children, your mortgage, or that unexpected bill? Being a Witch makes you extraordinary, for sure, but it doesnât give you a pass on all the responsibility that comes with living in the real world. Witchcraft is a tool we can use to make some parts of life easier, but in some ways it can also make things a great deal more challenging.â
Mooney, Thorn. The Witchâs Path: Advancing Your Craft at Every Level (pp. 22-23). Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD⌠Kindle Edition.
All in all, would I recommend this book?: Yes! Itâs great!
I also read Discovering Christian Witchcraft by Emyle D. Prata & Sara Raztresen.
I posted this in the thread that @tracyS began on the topic and @MeganB suggested adding it here for others to see as well.
Ok, so, wow⌠that was a lot! 10/10 recommend that anyone interested read the book⌠but itâs definitely not a speed read and I will definitely be going back through it bit by bit to glean more!
So, background on me, I guess. When I first decided that this path might be for me, the biggest thing holding me back was fear that I couldnât be Christian and a Witch. Cue fire and brimstone, 13 years of Catholic school, blah blah blah. BUT - my grandma and my mama encouraged all of us to explore many, many different religions and spiritualities - there was none that was better than any other - and I am very thankful for this upbringing.
I finally got it through my head that I could, indeed, be both and I was just kind of making things work for myself, but I was still sort of grappling with deities. I was much more comfortable with the idea of âspiritâ or âthe universeâ or âLord and Ladyâ - kind of believing that all deities were derived from the same source, as you will, but present themselves in ways that make them more relatable to people. Then I decided that maybe I was pantheistic. I was okay with that. BUT, I didnât have a horrible upbringing in the church. Maybe itâs because my family was Catholic⌠and in the Bible Belt being Catholic is just about the same as being a witch⌠I donât know. I definitely have moral issues with the âchurchâ as an institution and political entity. I definitely feel like Christianity has veered off itâs course, but I love the ritual and the ceremony and the mysticism of it all. Christianity is a huge part of the culture where I live and I, along with my family, encounter it daily. Most of the time every encounter is out of love, but there are definitely some holier than thous around too. Truth be told, I like being a part of the community that embraces loving Christianity, so I was happy to do my own thing along side everyone else.
From the book, I agree whole heartedly that the Bible is inspired by the hand of God, but definitely written by man and I have known forever that the Bible has been changed and altered over time to fit the narrative of those in power, whether on purpose or by copy mistake. I have also always believed that the cultural, historical, and political paradigm of Biblical times played an important part in the context of the Bible. The vocabulary and translations for words such as âwitchâ were very interesting as well.
I surprised myself with my reaction regarding Christianity appropriating (for lack of a better word) the ideas and cultures of itâs converts. If putting flowers on the head of a cow to honor a deity and ensure a healthy herd of cows was bad, how did slapping the name of Jesus on it make it ok? I got really offended at this and last night, when I decided I had to stop reading and go to bed, I had shrugged my shoulders and decided that maybe I wasnât a Christian witch. Maybe I was ok with letting Christianity go and just doing what I do because what kind of people just rebrand and take things for themselves?
I kept reading this morning and was REALLY fascinated with the idea of egregores and the balance of what God is and what God isnât and how deities of all kinds fit together. I really want to go back here soon and slow down to learn more. It made me think of the obscurus in the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them movies. I am definitely going to revisit this.
As I kept reading, I was pleasantly surprised to see how much magick really is in the Bible, the idea of using Psalms and Proverbs as parts of spells hadnât really occurred to me and I found myself ready to pull my Bible back out and start reading again⌠which is something I havenât thought on in a really long time. Itâs like the information is hidden in plain sight!
I was enamored with the section on Mary Magdalene and Mary the Mother of God because those are favorite biblical figures. I have a beautiful statue of Mary Magdalene portrayed as the divine feminine and my sister has a beautiful bust of Mary that belonged to my grandmother that we both cherish. I thought the ideas of the Holy Spirit, Wisdom, and Sophia to be brilliant. The concept felt familiar to me, but I couldnât place from where. I have some pretty extensive church history knowledge, Catechism, and general religious knowledge going on from 13 years of Catholic school and several college classes⌠but I still canât quite put my finger on why that was so familiar to me. I definitely want to go back and reread all of that too.
I lot of the folk magic that the authors talked about was familiar to me. I had the absolute joy of going to college in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains and surrounded myself with as much of that culture as possible. Itâs still one of my favorite places on earth and the mountains are like no others. I also, for some reason, have a book of Appalachian folk magic that just kind of mysteriously appeared in my Kindle Library. I may have bought it, but I donât really remember buying it. Now Iâm excited to dive into it, too.
I got some clarity on the clairs (LOL) and can finally pinpoint which clair I seem most predisposed to (clairaudience if youâre curious⌠the random thoughts that populate my head that come from⌠.somewhere else⌠are overwhelming sometimes!).
I found all of the information on angels and demons enthralling. Again, I feel like a lot of this information was stuff that I knew. My grandmother talked to me a lot about angels when I was little⌠maybe not demons because I had (have) and incredibly active imagination and it probably would have frightened me. Again, I canât quite bring back what I knew, but it was so familiar.
I love the ideas on venerated ancestors and spirits - it all seemed so natural and not scary. I was comforted by the constant assurances that spirits canât hurt you unless you let them curate fear inside of you.
I thought the walk through of other spirits like nature spirits (and the idea of Christian Animism!), faeries, and house spirits was amazing. I honestly wasnât expected to see that lens at all! I also learned that a Scottish house spirit is called a Gonk and now I really want one.
There was some validation that the things I see out of the corner of my eye are actually things - but not things that I should be concerned with.
By the end of the book, I was pretty excited because it was like reading about myself. There are definitely some ideas that I really want to explore more⌠and a few things that feel a little out there for me, but wow! This was definitely a bit of a wild ride!
Thank you so much for recommending the book and I canât wait to discuss more with everyone!
Book title and author: The Crooked Path: An Introduction to Traditional Witchcraft by Kelden
Status: Finished
My overall rating of the book: 10/10
How does this book relate to my magickal practice? I identify my style of Witchcraft as that of Traditional Witchcraft, and I try to base as much of my practice as I can on folklore and personal (unverfied) gnosis. Itâs refreshing to read a book that resonates so much with my (current) path.
My personal thoughts/opinions: I have a hard time finding books that truly resonate with me and my personal practices. This one comes pretty close to being almost exactly aligned with my beliefs. I find that most books on Traditional Witchcraft feel too outdated or put too much of an emphasis on making sure things are exactly the way theyâre supposed to be. Keldenâs approach is pretty much the same as mine: If it works, it works; if not, change it so it does work for you. Keldenâs approach is also rooted in folklore, but not so rooted that itâs not open to change.
An interesting quote from the book:
Given the common misconceptions about what qualifies as a tradition, Traditional Witchcraft is often mistakenly thought of as representing (or trying to represent) a singular, unified, and unchanged tradition that stretches far back into the mists of time. But this just isnât the case. Instead, the term Traditional Witchcraft refers to a collection of different paths that are influenced and inspired by traditions found within folklore. And again, these traditions are subject to change and growth in order for them to have relevance and meaning in the world today. Traditional Witches take stock of the traditions and customs from folklore, particularly that of our ancestors, but we donât fool ourselves into believing that we live in the past or that these traditions have been untouched by the hands of time. Instead, we find ways to weave strands of the past into the tapestry of our modern lives. It is this process that makes Traditional Witchcraft âtraditional.â (From chapter 1, e-book verison, so I donât have a specific page number at the moment)
This quote stuck out to me because since I began my current spiritual path, all of the books I was reading were basically saying âThis practice is ancient and must be done EXACTLY as I say, otherwise it wonât work.â This sentiment never sat well with me, and so to read that passage made me realize that not everyone in the Witchcraft sphere is so stagnant and stuck in their ways.
All-in-all, would I recommend this book?: Yes
Eep! I keep on forgetting to post this!
Book Title and Author: The Witchâs Path by Thorne Mooney
Status: Finished
My overall rating of the book: 9
How does this book relate to my magickal practice?: I was looking for a book to elevate my practice to the next level and this was a great pick!
My personal thoughts/opinions: This is a great book for both beginner and intermediate witches! I think it will really bring you a few new ideas for your practice!
An interesting quote from the book: âHow do you develop your Craft in the midst of regular working life? What about when youâre dealing with illness? How do you continue to study and learn when all you can think about is your boss, your children, your mortgage, or that unexpected bill? Being a Witch makes you extraordinary, for sure, but it doesnât give you a pass on all the responsibility that comes with living in the real world. Witchcraft is a tool we can use to make some parts of life easier, but in some ways it can also make things a great deal more challenging.â
Mooney, Thorn. The Witchâs Path: Advancing Your Craft at Every Level (pp. 22-23). Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD⌠Kindle Edition.
All in all, would I recommend this book?: Yes! Itâs great!
Book Title and Author: On the Bank of Oblivion by Emma Rose
Status? : Finished
My overall rating of the book : 8/10
How does this book relate to my magickal practice?: It doesnât, not really. Itâs a fictional book about a boy who experiences a chronic illness and finds himself in another realm on the shores of Oblivionâs realm. Oblivion is also known as Lethe, the Goddess of Oblivion.
My personal thoughts/opinions: Overall, the book was okay. It isnât my usual genre of book but itâs a Maine author and I picked it up at Book Fest earlier this year (and itâs a signed copy 
) so I was more than happy to support her. The book itself centers more around the main character and his ever-growing list of symptoms rather than Oblivion, though she also plays a role. The book itself did make me think a bit about how we interact with the Gods and the role they may play in our lives, even if we donât realize it.
An interesting quote from the book: Not a quote, but an idea. This part will contain spoilers so I will put it under a âread moreâ.
So, in the book, the main character (Owen) falls into a sort of trance, the liminal space between awake and asleep. He floats there for a bit in the river not really knowing where he is. Above him floating in the mist is Oblivion, curious as to the man who has entered her realm. She says that people have long since forgotten about her and no longer bring her offerings. Owen finds himself moving back and forth between this liminal space and his waking life, living day by day as normal and speaking with Oblivion at night. Through their relationship, Oblivion seems very stuck on the idea that Owen can create new things out of nothing while she can only copy what she has seen or taken from the memory of others.
This leads to the end of the book where Owen tells her he no longer wants to come back because sheâs threatening him. She wants him to stay with her forever and he refuses. Originally, she wants him and his memories. She is the Goddess of Oblivion, after all. She is upset because no one remembers her and, if he leaves, no one will remember her still. He tells her that he remembers her - even if he doesnât come back, he will remember her.
Then she makes him a different deal - she wants his worship, requires it, and tells him that he will make her likeness and share it with the world. Then, on the New Moon, he will return to her with those works of art in his mind so she can see them. He agrees, and then he drifts out of Oblivion back into the waking world.
This makes me wonder just how many of the Old Gods have been forgotten by us humans. I know many Gods have changed shape and adapted for the times â Brighid and St. Brighid, for example â but there have been so many cultures, so many small villages of people who no longer exist. Iâm sure they all had Gods of their own with names and likenesses and they are now forgotten⌠now Iâm thinking more about the Old Gods of the land I live on. I know the Indigenous People remember, and not being Native I have no right to infringe on their practices, but I am very curious about the old Spirits and Gods that potentially sleep right beneath me just waiting for someone to remember them.
All in all, would I recommend this book?: Yes, it was a good book!
I know Iâm probably posting this review a bit early, but I wanted to post it before I forgot because I have the memory of a walnut 
lol
Book title and author: The Way of Fire and Ice: The Living Traditions of Norse Paganism by Ryan Smith
Status: Finished
My overall rating of the book: 8/10
How does this book relate to my magickal practice? I havenât really learned too much about Norse paganism so far in my journey, so I figured it was time to read something out of my normal scope of practice.
My personal thoughts/opinions: I honestly wasnât really sure what to expect because for some reason, whenever Iâve tried reading anything about Norse mythology/paganism in the past, it all seemed so complicated because there were so many figures with such intricate backstories and I got easily overwhelmed and never felt much of a connection to it. I admit that the same could be said for Roman and Greek mythology/paganism; however, because Greek and Roman history and mythology is emphasized more than that of the Norse peoples, hearing the complex tales of the Greek/Roman deities seemed a little less complicated. It was all about what I was used to being exposed to.
The way Ryan Smith explained the lore and certain aspects of Norse mythology was much more clear, concise, and straightforward than anything else Iâve read about it up to this point. I still need more time for the information to sink in, and I probably need a few more exposures to the Norse lore to better comprehend it, but I feel that I got a better understanding of it from The Way of Fire and Ice than I had from any other source.
As someone whose practice is rooted in mostly American folk practices at this point, I wasnât really expecting to take away too much from this book. I was shocked with how much inspiration I got for things I can potentially adapt into my practice. The exercises provided in each chapter are more specific to what the author calls âRadical Norse Paganismâ (a term that I have mixed feelings about, given the history of people twisting Norse paganism to justify hatred, bigotry, racism, sexism, homophobia, etc.), but at the same time, the exercises could be easily adapted to fit into just about any spiritual practice. This adaptability is one thing that the author pushes for. Several times throughout the book, he advocates for practicing in a way that is authentic for you, provided that you are ethical in your practice.
On the topic of any kind of exclusionary beliefs, Smith takes a very firm stance: he does not tolerate judgement or exclusion of anyone based on any factor. The only thing that he states that anyone should be excluded for is if they have racist/bigoted/sexist/homophobic/etc. beliefs, or if they continue violating the rules of the group. TLDR: His stance is that no one should be excluded for any reason, provided they are a good person.
Smith also discusses topics such as conflict resolution that are useful not only for the purposes of practicing Norse paganism, but that are also applicable to working out any conflicts that arise in daily life.
An interesting quote from the book: There are many wonderful quotes in this book! I have a hard time picking just one, so Iâll list a few that resonated deeply with me.
âLiving tradition is this wayâs beating heart. It is a spiritual practice that grows and changes as times and needs require it to. We are always developing and are never chained to the dictates of holy books or anointed leaders. The ancient lore that inspires us leaves no doubt reality is not fixed and unmoving. The world as we know it has not always been and will not always exist as it currently does.â (page 5)
âValues are a compass steering you toward the right path, not a map dictating what that path is and must always be.â (page 6)
âPrudence and discipline are good, but there are also times when it is necessary to take risks. Ultimately, wisdom is more than knowing facts and ideas, it is the capacity to assess their worth and determine the best course of action in a given situation based on what you can and want to do.â (page 102)
All-in-all, would I recommend this book?: Yes
I has been a while since I have finished witchy book. But i work really hard to complete it so that i could review the book!
@ MeganB thanks for extending the book club. It allowed me to finish this short but robust book about Persephone.
Review
Pagan Portals: Persephone: Pracing the art of personal power
By Robin Corak
Status: Finished
My overall rating of this book was a 9/10
This book relates ro my magical practice because: I listen to who and what dieties i am supposed to work with when I hear a dieties name three time from three different people and this happened with Persephone at beginning of October.
Personql thoughts opinions:
This book is only 95 pages but is very dense and thoughtful. It has guided meditations to help you connect with Persephone, and her essence. Each chapter has journal prompts.
I really enjoyed that the author reclaimed th narrative of persephone from the masculine stores that are about Persephone and elude to rape, whereas this author reimpowered Persephone. I ask enjoyed the crafts and instructions for making good to honor her, inscense and oils. It is very throughout book!
