📝 Spells8 Book Club XXX - Readers' Reviews!

Activities
1

Wishing a very warm welcome to all of the Witchy Readers! :open_book:

The latest reading period for Book Club [Jul 28 - Aug 25] has now ended - thank you to everyone who joined in!

Members & Their Books This Reading Period:

  • The Book of Druidry by Kristoffer Hughes
    @BryWisteria

  • The Living Tarot: Connecting the Cards to Everyday Life for Better Readings by T. Susan Chang
    @Amethyst

  • The Path of the Sacred Hermit by Avallach Emrys
    @jan_TheGreenWitch

  • The Runes A grounding in Northern Magic by James Flowerdew
    @tracyS

  • The Spiral Dance by Starhawk
    @Shadeweaver

  • Witchcraft Therapy by Mandi Em
    @catherine11

  • Ancient Wisdom, Modern Hope by James T. Powers
    @MeganB

  • The Crooked Path: An Introduction to Traditional Witchcraft by Kelden
    @Jewitch

  • Empty Cauldrons: Navigating Depression Through Magic and Ritual by Terence P Ward
    @Amaris_Bane

  • The Magical Books of Solomon: The Greater and Lesser Keys & The Testament of Solomon By Aleister Crowley, S.L. Macgregor Mathers, F.C. Conybear
    @TheMuslimWitch

Even if you are not listed above but you read a book during this reading period/ you decided to read a different book than listed- you are very welcome to share and discuss here too!

Time to share your thoughts with your coven! :star_struck:

This discussion post will serve as a place to share your thoughts and opinions on the book you chose.

  • :heart_eyes: If you loved your book and think everyone should read it- awesome! Talk about your favorite points or something you learned.
  • :woman_shrugging: If you didn’t connect with the book- consider explaining why it wasn’t for you.
  • :angry: Absolutely hated your book of choice? Warn others to stay away!

This is a great place to share your love for books and find recommendations for new books to read :+1:

reading and tea time
reading and tea time1280×851 198 KB

From Pixabay

Your book review can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like :writing_hand:

If you’re not sure what to talk about, here is a suggested format you can use. Feel free to write as little or as much as you’d like!

Book Title and Author:

Status? : Finished / Still Reading

My overall rating of the book : ???/10

How does this book relate to my magickal practice?:

My personal thoughts/opinions:

An interesting quote from the book: " "

All in all, would I recommend this book?: Yes / No

Remember that your review is uniquely yours- this is a chance to let your opinions and voice be heard :raised_hands:

Please keep in mind that others may have opinions that differ from yours- when responding to the thoughts of others please always show respect! Remember that 100 people will read 1 book and have 100 different experiences. That’s what makes sharing interesting :heart:

What if I didn’t finish my book / joined late? :raised_hand:

No worries!

You are welcome to share your thoughts about the part you have read so far. If you joined the session late and have just started, feel free to talk about your expectations for your book. You can continue reading it into the next reading period.

And whether you read a book or not - you are very welcome to jump in and discuss what others share about their books! :handshake:

moon library
moon library1280×857 307 KB

From Pixabay

Deadlines and Dates :spiral_calendar:

You have 5 weeks to share your thoughts and discuss (until the next Readers’ Review Post appears in the forum!)

Deadline for Reviews for this Session: Friday, September 29

While you have plenty of time for reviews, know that the next reading period will begin in one week:

The Next Reading Session will Begin: Friday, September 1st

On this day a post will appear where you can announce your next book (or continue with your current reading!).

Until then, you can find more info about the club in the Book Club FAQ.

reading time
reading time1280×1280 450 KB

From Pixabay

It can be hard to find the time and motivation to read on your own- hopefully book club helped provide a bit of motivation and that it led to some wonderful new knowledge and discoveries in your Craft :books:

Thanks again for joining in and being a part of Book Club! I am so excited to read your thoughts and learn more about the book you spent time with :blush::open_book:

Blessed be! :sparkles:

:books: :heart: :infinite_roots:

9 Likes
2

6 posts were merged into an existing topic: Witchy Book Reviews! Spells8 Book Club Reviews Masterlist - Sessions XXVI - L

3

Sometimes books are simply tools in the practice, but other times they are our best friends and greatest encouragers- I’m so happy you found your inspiration and spark again through your book! :blush:

I’ve had The Crooked Path on my (embarrassingly long) reading list for ages but still haven’t got myself a copy yet- it really sounds like a fantastic book, especially for those who practice more on the edges or outside of Wicca. I agree with you that many books on witchcraft are Wicca-focused or lean heavily on it (even the book on Slavic Paganism I have references Wicca more than I expected it would!) so as another practitioner who doesn’t identify as Wiccan, I also find it refreshing to read about other traditions and practices too.

Beautiful quotes- I really appreciate the encouragement and support to pursue one’s one unique path! :blush:

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, @Jewitch! :open_book: :heart:

12 Likes
5

Wow- it sounds like it covers a huge variety of areas with lots to explore, that’s really neat! And from what you’ve said, even within each category it branches into many deeper areas of study. Sounds like something I’d enjoy! :grinning:

Thank you so much for sharing your review, Garnet- I’m glad you enjoyed The Ultimate Book of Spells! :heart:

9 Likes
9

I am reading Wicca, by Scott Cunningham.

8 Likes
11

Congrats on finishing The Living Tarot, Amethyst! I like the quote- it sounds like the author has a very friendly and even humorous way of writing. And interesting about the workbook aspect of it- it sounds very hands-on! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts about it :blush: :open_book:

Thank you for the heads up about the content- this sounds like a book that handles some very heavy topics, but that it does so in a very well-handled way. Writing about mental health is not easy to do, but it looks like Ward walked the delicate tightrope of sensitivity with grace and honesty. I haven’t been diagnoses with depression, but I do have anxiety and I imagine that some of the advice and guidance provided here may be of use. I’ll be adding this one to my to-read list! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, Amaris- I hope you continue to enjoy the book :heart: :books:

I just finished watching the Good Omens TV show and I’m ready for more of Gaiman’s works- American Gods sounds like a very fun read! I hope you continue to enjoy your time with Shadow- happy reading, Tracy! Do you think you’ll watch the TV show when you’ve finished the book? :wink:

That’s a great book! Cunningham’s works are classics :blush: I hope you enjoy Wicca, Maurice- happy reading! :heart:

Sorry it wasn’t what you were hoping for, Megan! It sounds like a book that would be valuable for those looking to learn about Native American practices in the New England area, but probably not the best match for readers hoping for wisdom about witchcraft. Thank you for the quotes and for sharing your thoughts! :pray: :blush:

7 Likes
12

You’re welcome! It’s a very good beginner’s book. Very easy to read.

6 Likes
13

Yeah, it definitely isn’t that. I was really hoping for information about animism and ancient practices. I did get some of that, but the writing style definitely wasn’t a good fit for me.

7 Likes
14

Thanks Megan.

7 Likes
15

You’re welcome! :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

6 Likes
16

You’re both reminding me to reread this book. :black_heart: I also recommend it. It has a really down-to-earth, practical tone to it. I’m definitely more on the darker, shadowy side of things, so I find it refreshing to read less “love and light” toned content. (Not that there’s anything wrong with it, of course, just that it really doesn’t match my personal energy. Like sunlight. Sunlight and I aren’t really friends. Gosh, I’m digging myself into a hole
 I’m going to stop. :joy:)

Do you happen to remember which book this was? I’m curious to check it out. I don’t know much about the potential of this part of the family, but I can’t ask because I will scare the life out of them – they’re not religious (they would be Eastern Orthodox Christian if they were), but they’re deeply superstitious in a very fearful way. There’s no such thing as good luck to them, after all, but there sure is bad luck and curses. :skull:

That being said, I am slowly introducing to them some things. I’m giving them good luck and protection charms, which they really appreciate, and it gives me peace of mind to know they’re protected. :smile:

Wow, what a tangent I went on
 I probably need sleep. :thinking:

9 Likes
17

Apologies for the late reply- yes! It’s called SƂowiaƄska wiedĆșma (“Slavic witch”) by DobromiƂa Agiles. It’s in Polish so I couldn’t read much of it, but my partner helped me through some parts- the book has lots of information about Polish pagan deities, rituals, and recipes, but often dips into comparisons with Celtic traditions and Wicca. There’s also a section about something the author calls “Slavic gymnastics” which, and maybe I missed something in translation, but was a rather
 interesting inclusion in a book of witchcraft. But again, it’s not in my native language so I’m sure I missed a lot haha.

That is so sweet of you! It sounds like your love and care is overpowering the old fear and superstitions- that is a really powerful (and wonderful!) thing :heart: :blush:

8 Likes
18

Thank you! :black_heart: Looking at its table of contents, there’s a lot of wonderful information in there. I’ll have to give it a read. :smile:

7 Likes
19

I jumped straight ahead to the section on Slavic gymnastics. It explains that these movements are intended to be performed slowly and methodically, with a focus on identifying and energising “power spots,” as well as improving flexibility through stretching and tightening. This practice appears almost to be a Slavic spiritual yoga, and there is a brief comparison to yoga within the text. However, it is emphasised that Slavic gymnastics is typically combined with incantations, affirmations, Slavic horoscopes, and other elements.

The text also highlights that the terminology associated with this practice, such as “stojąca woda” or “standing water,” is chosen to evoke associations with femininity, tranquillity, self-discipline, patience, and concentration.

I know I’ve already got a long list of to-do’s thanks to everyone here (and I mean that in the most appreciative way possible – you all are wonderful guides), but @CelestiaMoon, what do you think? Shall we explore some Slavic gymnastics sometime? :joy: :black_heart:

7 Likes
20

@starborn Sure, I’d love to, though you’d have to translate for me, my Polish is a bit rusty too :joy: :black_heart:

7 Likes
21

Reading what you’ve written, I can see it! :grinning: The word “gymnastics” gave me flashbacks to wearing an awful little leotard and having to balance on a balance beam lol, which really threw me off- I think “Slavic yoga” gives a much better picture of the practice, at least in my mind. Thank you for this, Katerina (and wow- your Polish is on point! :clap: :heart_eyes: )

Do it! :joy: :raised_hands: (and please let me know what you think if you give them a try! :wink: :heart:)

9 Likes
22

I will do my best! So far I’m just going off how things sound and looking for commonalities with the languages I do know. I don’t actually know any Polish. :sweat_smile: I’m a fraud! Don’t tell anyone. We’ll make it a cult secret. :shushing_face:

No worries! :black_heart:

Aww. Your praise is too high. :bowing_woman: The word for “yoga” was “jogi”. :female_detective:

Then what if I told you these words, “inkantacjami, afirmacjami, sƂowiaƄskim horoskopem” are “incantations, affirmations, Slavic horoscopes”? Then there’s “gimnastyki” (gymnastics), “holistycznie” (holistic), harmonię (harmony)
 You can see it, yeah? :smile:

We’ll have to see how far this can get me. :joy: I’m hoping I can translate chapter 4 on the festivals in the cycle of the year
 Then there is a whole chapter on Slavic magick (3), with information on a Slavic altar, spells, amulets and talismans
 :star_struck:

If I translate it and put it into my own words in doing so, is it okay to share an entire spell and similar things? I know we can’t simply copy-paste because of copyright, but it gets weird with translations. I notice people translate whole books and sell them as their own but credit the original. :thinking:

8 Likes
23

Cult secrets woohoo! :joy: :+1: I mean
 shhhh :wink:

With excellent teacher Katerina pointing them out, yes indeed! :grinning: And here I was getting all caught up and stuck in the grammar and conjugations haha- this way of reading is way better! You’re a language master, @starborn :clap: :heart:

Yes, you’re welcome to share a spell! :grinning:

Copyright can indeed get very confusing and grey (especially with international law variations and translations), so as a safety net we have some sharing guidelines in place in the forum. The Forum Guidelines say that, assuming the content is not hidden behind a paywall and not banned from sharing by the author, it is fine to share a part of a book if credit to the original author is given.

7 Likes
24

That is the most difficult part of so many languages. :sweat_smile:

Japanese is similar. There are almost six different ways to end a word, based on the formality and tense. Then their numbers entirely change depending on what you are counting, because why not, I guess? Doesn’t make it easy to learn. :joy:

But if you go to Japan, they understand so many English words as they’ve taken them as loanwords! You can get by with just saying English words in a Japanese way, as racist as that sounds. But seriously. “Moka kohii” (ăƒąă‚«ă‚łăƒŒăƒ’ăƒŒ) is mocha coffee, “toire” (ăƒˆă‚€ăƒŹ) is toilet, and “hoteru” (ăƒ›ăƒ†ăƒ«) is hotel. I mean, they have their own words for many things they use loanwords for, but the loanwords are increasing in popularity year by year.

My main language, Macedonian, is similar to Japanese with the grammar. But Macedonian is very similar to other Slavic languages. I can understand some Serbian, Bulgarian, and Russian, for example, as a result. Even a little Turkish, because we have taken many words from them, as they ruled us a long time ago!

And English speakers can easily understand some of these words, too! Because they’re the same. For example, ОЎДал is “ideal,” ĐșĐ°Ń„Đ” is “kafe” (or ĐșĐŸŃ„Đ” is “kofe”), ĐșĐŸĐŒĐżŃ˜ŃƒŃ‚Đ”Ń€ is “kompjuter,” and they mean exactly what you think they do. :wink:

Well, “kafe” is the word for coffee. The world is split between those who say “cafe” for coffee and those who say “coffee.” Hence why “cafe latte” means “coffee with milk.”

Anyway, another family language, Chinese, helped me learn to look between the lines a little. Especially when I started reading really old Chinese texts in Chinese, such as Dao De Jing (that popular book on Taoism), the works of Zhuang Zi (famously known for the butterfly quote), Sun Zi’s Art of War, and so on. Their sentences tend to provide very little context and are very, very simple. For example, here’s a line from Kong Zi (Confucius) from Wikipedia:

When the stables were burnt down, on returning from court Confucius said, “Was anyone hurt?” He did not ask about the horses.

Here it is in Chinese:

ć»„ç„šă€‚ć­é€€æœïŒŒæ›°ïŒšć‚·äșșäčŽïŒŸäžć•éŠŹă€‚

Literally, it says:

Stable burn. Zi withdraw court, say: injured? Not ask horse.

:joy: If you ever need to jump into the deep of the language pool, ancient languages seem a good bet.

Gosh, Katerina. Tell everyone you’re a language nerd without saying “I’m a language nerd.” :sweat_smile:

Yay! Alright, I might do some reading on the weekend and share some of my favourites over time. :black_heart:

6 Likes
25

Scream it from the rooftops, okay?! It’s such a wonderful thing and you should be proud of yourself that you know and/or can understand multiple languages. This is one thing I really dislike about being raised in the United States. We are taught English and only English in school, until we get to High School (I’m not sure what this level is called elsewhere, but it’s about 13 to 17/18 years old). Then, we are required to take two years of classes of a foreign language, and only if you plan on going to college/university. Those classes are usually only Spanish or French, more if you’re lucky and go to a well-funded school.

The only other time someone tends to learn another language well enough to speak or understand it is if they grow up in a multilingual family, and even then, English is usually given priority.

I’ve tried learning a new language, Irish to be specific, and learning a new language in my 30s is really difficult :sweat_smile: nevermind the ADHD, but the memory struggles are there, too. Anyway, all that to say that you should be proud of your language abilities! :clap: And if you’re not, I am!

6 Likes