Wishing a warm welcome to all of the forum book-lovers!
Thank you again to everyone who joined in for last month’s reading session (Reading Session XI)
For those who haven’t yet shared their thoughts about their book (or anyone who enjoys reading book reviews!) you still have time to do so in Spells8 Book Club XI- Reader’s Reviews .
As of today, the twelfth book club reading session has now begun !
Time to read!
Announce your book
The first post below is an editable wiki post- add your book title and name to the list! (instructions below)
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!
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!
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.
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
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
On the Wiki Post above (the first reply to the original post) look on the bottom right (near where you click to “like” a post).
Click on the word “Edit”. You can now change details in the post.
You can copy and paste another entry- write your book title, author, and username.
Don’t forget to click “save” when you are done!
If you’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
A few people mentioned they already had a book in mind in the current Readers’ Review discussion- I’ve gone ahead and added you in to the list! Feel free to edit the Wiki Post if you’d like any changes made
I’m afraid I won’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! It’s a massive trip, so no reading for me this month as we prepare and take flight. That being said, as always I’m still looking forward to hearing about everyone else’s books
I’ll be entering this book club but I’m waiting for a book to arrive. If it doesn’t come soon, I’ll just wait for the next one. It should be here in a couple days anyway.
I’m reading two books right now I’m still working on The Witch’s Path but I also got The Witch at the Forest’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!
I’m really enjoying my books on Celtic Paganism & the Morrigan. I’m about halfway through the 2nd book on Her that I am reading.
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 Otherworld… which would also be the Morrigan. (I know, 1 thing at a time ) I will let you know if I make it to a 2nd book this time around
Witchcraft Therapy by Mandi Em is so far an awesome book. I thought I’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 don’t worry, boo: You’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 you’re worried that by shifting your focus away from all your imagined shortcomings you’ll somehow be setting yourself up for catastrophe (hello, anxiety!), know this: You’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 you’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, you’ll need:
A spoon
Honey
A warm cup of herbal tea (preferably something calming, such as chamomile or peppermint)
A mirror
Measure a spoonful of honey and tap it into the cup without submerging the spoon in the water.
Put the spoon on your tongue. Either in your head or out loud say the following incantation while looking in the mirror: “I choose to speak as if to a friend; sweeten my words, with love I’ll send.”
Use the spoon to stir your tea clockwise a few times.
Begin sipping the tea. As you drink, visualize it as a medicine that heals your mind’s tongue from talking shit about yourself.
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.
My Pagan Portals book on Persephone has just arrived and I’m already entranced. Her story (not the traditional abduction version) is really resonating with me.
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
I have Pre-ordered my copy of The Witch’s Path: Advancing Your Craft at Every Levelby Thorn Mooney . But I’m not too sure when it will be released here in Australia. Bummer.
So in the meantime I have ordered myself Hekate: Goddess of Witchesby Courtney Weber.
While I’m waiting for that one to arrive I am reading Wicca Made Easy: Awaken the Divine Magic within Youby 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. I’m lucky; I’ve got a really good mum.
Awesome, @Christina4- I hope your new book arrives safe and sound!
Nice, @IrisW- with the season and Hekate’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!
Sounds like fun @MeganB! Enjoy your books and can’t wait to hear your thoughts on them
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 I’m sure you can get through them! Good luck!
Ohhhh thanks so much for sharing the spell, @Rowan! Always love empowering spells, and honey is a favorite ingredient. This is a great one- thank you!
So many wonderful books, @jessica72- good for you! I hope they all meet your expectations and that you have fun learning more. Blessed reading!
You’ve got the best of both worlds, @Susurrus! I left my eBook reader in the USA when I moved to Europe two years ago and I can’t wait to have it again! Never thought I would miss it, but they really are handy for keeping lots of books on hand
Another Great bit of info I found in my book that I’m reading… A Banishing Beads Ritual
For this ritual, you’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*
Tie a blue ribbon around the mouth of one of the jars, and a black ribbon around the mouth of the other.
Fill the jar with the blue ribbon with the beads. These beads represent your thoughts.
When you’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.
As you handle the bead, affirm its task as being a physical representation of that anxious thought.
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. It’s not gone, just shelved for now.
Repeat this process until the jars are reversed (the black jar is full and the blue jar is empty).
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
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!
Spells8 Book Club XI- Reader’s Reviews .
I’m still working on The Witch’s Path but I also got The Witch at the Forest’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!
) I will let you know if I make it to a 2nd book this time around 
Always love empowering spells, and honey is a favorite ingredient. This is a great one- thank you! 
I left my eBook reader in the USA when I moved to Europe two years ago and I can’t wait to have it again! Never thought I would miss it, but they really are handy for keeping lots of books on hand 
