šŸ“– Spells8 Book Club XII (Nov 5 - Dec 3)

Wishing a warm welcome to all of the forum book-lovers!

:books: :blush: :heart:

Thank you again to everyone who joined in for last monthā€™s reading session (Reading Session XI)

For those who havenā€™t yet shared their thoughts about their book (or anyone who enjoys reading book reviews!) you still have time to do so in :memo: Spells8 Book Club XI- Readerā€™s Reviews .

As of today, the twelfth book club reading session has now begun !

Spells8 Book Club

Time to read!

  1. Announce your book
    The first post below is an editable wiki post- add your book title and name to the list! (instructions below)

  2. The reading period is open for [[ 4 weeks ]]
    While it is great if you can finish your book during this time, it is okay if you break it into chapters or sections- do as much as you can and know that doing your best is always good enough!

  3. Share your thoughts
    You are very welcome to share any thoughts or tidbits while you read in the comments below or in a new post in the forums. But save the best parts for the final discussion at the end of the reading period!

  4. Final Discussion
    After four weeks, a discussion post will open encouraging all readers to share a review of their book and any personal thoughts they have about it. A mini-review is perfectly fine, and there will be a suggested format for anyone who would like to write a longer review.


Art by Arga Rad: Young Witch in Library

A note about sharing books:

While everyone is free to choose their own book, you may consider reading along with someone else ! It is fun to share thoughts and insights about different books and even more exciting to do in-depth about a book with fellow readers :handshake:

If the book you plan to read is already on the list below, add your name to the list of others reading that book! For books with multiple readers, a separate discussion just for you will open for you to swap thoughts and share insights.

Please keep in mind that everyone will reconvene for the final discussion, regardless of which book you read :books:


Picture by Wizards of the Coast, from Polygon

Not sure what to read?

You can find book recommendations in:

And also:

Reading on a budget?

Free online books can be found in:


Art by Wonderland Games: Spellbook

If you have any questions about Book Club, be sure to check the Book Club FAQ and/or ask in the comments.

Blessed be and happy reading!

:sparkles: :open_book: :sparkles:

3 Likes

~~ ~~ ~~ This post is a WIKI POST- it is editable by everyone! ~~ ~~ ~~

Please announce your books here :blush:

Example:
Book Title by Author
(@) your username

Out of respect to others, please only add/edit your own entry

  • Witchcraft Therapy by Mandi Em
    @Rowan

  • The Morrigan: Celtic Goddess of Magick & Might by Courtney Weber
    @Susurrus

  • Hekate: Goddess of Witches by Courtney Weber
    @IrisW

  • Pagan Portals - Persephone: Practicing the Art of Personal Power by Robin Corak
    @IrisW

  • Wicca Made Easy: Awaken the Divine Magic Within You by Phyllis Curott
    @jessica72

  • The Witchā€™s Path by Thorn Mooney
    @MeganB

  • The Witch at the Forestā€™s Edge by Christine Grace
    @MeganB

  • Rediscover the Magick of the Gods and Goddesses - Revealing the Mysteries of Theurgy by Jean-Louis de Biasi @Temujin_Calidius

  • Evolutionary Herbalism - Science, Spirituality, and Medicine from the Heart of Nature by Sajah Popham foreword by Matthew Wood @Velle

  • Raven Goddess: Going Deeper with the Morrigan by Morgan Daimler
    @Susurrus

  • The Inner Mysteries by Janet Farrar & Gavin Bone
    @Valen

  • Year of the Magickal Dragon by Virginia Chandler
    @Valen

  • The Crooked Path by Kelden
    @Valen

  • The Beginnerā€™s Guide to Runes by: Josh Simonds @Susurrus

  • The Witches Almanac; The Sun: Rays of Hope Issue 40 @christina4

  • Intuitive Witchcraft by Astrea Taylor @christine13

  • The Complete Guide to Incense, Oils and Brews by Scott Cunningham @anon87969570

9 Likes

For anyone who has trouble with adding their entry to the wiki post above, here is a step-by-step guide on how to do so:

ā†’ How to Edit a Wiki Post (with pictures!)

How to Edit a Wiki Post (written instructions)

How to Edit a Wiki Post

  1. On the Wiki Post above (the first reply to the original post) look on the bottom right (near where you click to ā€œlikeā€ a post).

  2. Click on the word ā€œEditā€. You can now change details in the post.

  3. You can copy and paste another entry- write your book title, author, and username.

  4. Donā€™t forget to click ā€œsaveā€ when you are done!

If youā€™ve read the instructions but are still having a tough time- no stress at all! For anyone who prefers, I am happy to add you in. Just write your book title and author in a normal post and I will take care of it :blush:

Blessed be! :heart:

6 Likes

A few people mentioned they already had a book in mind in the current Readersā€™ Review discussion- Iā€™ve gone ahead and added you in to the list! Feel free to edit the Wiki Post if youā€™d like any changes made :blush:

Iā€™m afraid I wonā€™t have the time for a book this month- we will be leaving soon to travel overseas to visit folks in the USA for the first time in two years! Itā€™s a massive trip, so no reading for me this month as we prepare and take flight. That being said, as always Iā€™m still looking forward to hearing about everyone elseā€™s books :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

Blessed reading everyone! :sparkles:

8 Likes

Iā€™ll be entering this book club but Iā€™m waiting for a book to arrive. If it doesnā€™t come soon, Iā€™ll just wait for the next one. It should be here in a couple days anyway.

8 Likes

The last book club completely passed me by but Iā€™m determined to actually read the book intended this time!

My book on Hekate has just arrived after being on pre-order and Iā€™ll also be using it to assist with this weekā€™s challenge.

9 Likes

Iā€™m reading two books right now :sweat_smile: Iā€™m still working on The Witchā€™s Path but I also got The Witch at the Forestā€™s Edge by Christine Grace from Weiser. That one is higher on the list of reading so that I can talk to Christine for the podcast sometime this month!

8 Likes

Iā€™m really enjoying my books on Celtic Paganism & the Morrigan. Iā€™m about halfway through the 2nd book on Her that I am reading. :books:

If I can I want to read Raven Goddess: Going Deeper with the Morrigan by Morgan Daimler. She does a whole series on her & then another book on Faery Queens & the Queens of the Otherworldā€¦ which would also be the Morrigan. (I know, 1 thing at a time :joy:) I will let you know if I make it to a 2nd book this time around :heart:

11 Likes

Witchcraft Therapy by Mandi Em is so far an awesome book. I thought Iā€™d pop over here and share a spell from the book and a passage that is phenomenal to me.

Part of the incredible magic of being human is the ability to grow and change. As you live your life, you make many shifts, some dramatic and some you might never even notice. Everyone has the capacity to change their mindset and thus their entire life. All those limits you set at some point based on what was going on became a self-fulfilling prophecy, but you can stop that prophecy in its tracks if you choose to put in the effort. Just like with the gratitude, you may find yourself hard up for material to praise yourself with at first. But donā€™t worry, boo: Youā€™ll get used to being kind to yourself over time. Most of us would be quick to defend ourselves if someone else were to dissect our character, so simply shift that energy inward, and it will eventually become second nature to sing your own praises like a sweet songbird. And if youā€™re worried that by shifting your focus away from all your imagined shortcomings youā€™ll somehow be setting yourself up for catastrophe (hello, anxiety!), know this: Youā€™re more likely to actually hone your intuition and inner voice of reason by channeling all that mental energy to a place that serves your highest good rather than draining you with needless negativity. To vibe check your mindset is truly a thing of beauty, and treating yourself as a friend is one of the greatest kindnesses you can give yourself. After all, how can you expect to find wisdom and healing in the world when youā€™re spent from fighting a battle against yourself? Remember: Your words are spells. Channel their power wisely.

Em, Mandi. Witchcraft Therapy: Your Guide to Banishing Bullsh*t and Invoking Your Inner Power (pp. 51-52). Adams Media. Kindle Edition.

A Honey-Tongued Spell
To complete a spell for shifting mean self-talk to empowering affirmation, youā€™ll need:
A spoon
Honey
A warm cup of herbal tea (preferably something calming, such as chamomile or peppermint)
A mirror

  1. Measure a spoonful of honey and tap it into the cup without submerging the spoon in the water.
  2. Put the spoon on your tongue. Either in your head or out loud say the following incantation while looking in the mirror: ā€œI choose to speak as if to a friend; sweeten my words, with love Iā€™ll send.ā€
  3. Use the spoon to stir your tea clockwise a few times.
  4. Begin sipping the tea. As you drink, visualize it as a medicine that heals your mindā€™s tongue from talking shit about yourself.
  5. Repeat this spell as often as needed in order to silence your inner critic and become your own biggest hype-bitch.

Em, Mandi. Witchcraft Therapy: Your Guide to Banishing Bullsh*t and Invoking Your Inner Power (p. 53). Adams Media. Kindle Edition.

10 Likes

Iā€™ve added a second book.

My Pagan Portals book on Persephone has just arrived and Iā€™m already entranced. Her story (not the traditional abduction version) is really resonating with me.

8 Likes

Rowan I really liked this spell and am doing it right know, as we speak. I liked how we were able to taste the honey first and then eat the honey then speak the truth! It was easy and profoundly helpful. i think I will put this one on my list to buy!
Jeannie

8 Likes

@Jeannie1 Awesome! Iā€™m glad you liked it, the entire book is so good. I was up until after 3 this morning reading.
:laughing::heart:

6 Likes

I have Pre-ordered my copy of The Witchā€™s Path: Advancing Your Craft at Every Level by Thorn Mooney . But Iā€™m not too sure when it will be released here in Australia. Bummer.

So in the meantime I have ordered myself Hekate: Goddess of Witches by Courtney Weber.

While Iā€™m waiting for that one to arrive I am reading Wicca Made Easy: Awaken the Divine Magic within You by Phyllis Curott. That one is actually a gift from my Mum. She surprised me with it one day a couple of weeks back.

She really is supporting me on my new journey and is happy to help me learn. Iā€™m lucky; Iā€™ve got a really good mum.

9 Likes

Awesome, @Christina4- I hope your new book arrives safe and sound! :package: :blush:

Nice, @IrisW- with the season and Hekateā€™s Night(s) coming up soon, I think that now is a great time to learn more about Her. And it sounds like your book on Persephone is wonderful as well. Enjoy your books! :sparkling_heart:

Sounds like fun @MeganB! Enjoy your books and canā€™t wait to hear your thoughts on them :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

Wow, @Susurrus, that is quite a list of books to get to- but it sounds like you are really enjoying them and flying through them, so Iā€™m sure you can get through them! Good luck! :grinning:

Ohhhh thanks so much for sharing the spell, @Rowan! :heart_eyes: Always love empowering spells, and honey is a favorite ingredient. This is a great one- thank you! :honey_pot:

So many wonderful books, @jessica72- good for you! I hope they all meet your expectations and that you have fun learning more. Blessed reading! :books:

8 Likes

Right now I have books on my phone & paperback, so no matter the situation I can read if I want to do so. :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

8 Likes

Youā€™ve got the best of both worlds, @Susurrus! :grin: I left my eBook reader in the USA when I moved to Europe two years ago and I canā€™t wait to have it again! Never thought I would miss it, but they really are handy for keeping lots of books on hand :books::two_hearts:

Blessed reading! :open_book:

8 Likes

Another Great bit of info I found in my book that Iā€™m readingā€¦
A Banishing Beads Ritual
For this ritual, youā€™ll need: A blue ribbon, about 6" long 2 Mason jars A black ribbon, about 6" long A collection of small beads (enough to fill 1 Mason jar) A Mason jar full of moon water*

  1. Tie a blue ribbon around the mouth of one of the jars, and a black ribbon around the mouth of the other.
  2. Fill the jar with the blue ribbon with the beads. These beads represent your thoughts.
  3. When youā€™re having an anxious or intrusive thought, take a bead from the first jar and hold it, visualizing it being filled with all the negative energy coming from that thought.
  4. As you handle the bead, affirm its task as being a physical representation of that anxious thought.
  5. Take a deep breath in and, as you exhale, place the bead in the jar with the black ribbon. Tell yourself that you are choosing to put this thought down. Itā€™s not gone, just shelved for now.
  6. Repeat this process until the jars are reversed (the black jar is full and the blue jar is empty).
  7. Once the black jar is full, pour in the moon water to cleanse your beads, drain that sucker, and begin again. *To collect moon water, leave a lidded jar of ingestible water outside somewhere the full moon will shine on it. The next morning, bring it out of the light and store it in a dark place until ready to use.
    From: Witchy Therapy By Mandi Em
    Pg #. 123-125
10 Likes

Very cool! Thanks for sharing!

7 Likes

I love this ritual- from the beads, to banishing bad thoughts, to how sustainable it is (a spell with nothing that needs to be disposed of, everything can be reused over and over again)! Absolutely beautiful, thanks so much for sharing, @Rowan! :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

7 Likes

9 posts were merged into an existing topic: :memo: Spells8 Book Club XII - Readersā€™ Reviews!