I didn’t finish my book…
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Book Title and Author: Modern Witchcraft with the Greek Gods by Jason Mankey and Astrea Taylor.
Status: Finished.
My overall rating of this book: is 25/10! A must-read!
How does this book relate to my magical practice?: I feel called towards the Greek Gods and wanted more information.
My personal thoughts/opinions: This is an AWESOME book. Filled with great information on all of the major Greek gods and some of the not-so-major ones. With rituals and personal insights, it was a great read. A must for any pagan who called on the Greek or Roman deities.
An interesting quote from this book: “Some of the gods were often seen as two sides of the same coin, which is why, for example, Zeus can both give and destroy. Active devotion with offerings were considered the best way to gain the gods’ favor, and people made offerings to multiple gods several times a day. They could be invoked aloud or in writing due to the belief that the gods didn’t always understand humans and couldn’t read minds. Some people believed it was important to discuss your history with the gods because they were so timeless that they sometimes needed reminding of who their supplicants were.”
All in all, would I recommend this book?: YES!
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Book Title & Author: Pagan Portals - Brigid: Meeting Meeting the Celtic Goddess of Poetry, Forge, & Healing Well By: Morgan Daimler
Status: Finished
My Overall Rating of the Book: 10/10
How does this book relate to my magickal practice?: I work with Brigid on a daily basis
My Personal Thoughts/Opinions: Great introductory book on Brigid with the author’s own personal experiences & practices. There was so much that I had “put away” & went "Oh, that’s where I had seen that! Then I made sure to write it in my little book of practice so I wouldn’t forget again. Very valuable information on her history & transformation, working with her, prayers, incantations, and traditions.
An Interesting Quote from the Book: Honestly, it’s not really a quote but a practice, on how to use water & crystal for healing within your practice.
All in All, Would I Recommend this Book?: Yes, absolutely
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Book Title and Author:: Witchcraft Therapy by Mandi Em
Status? : Still Reading
My overall rating of the book : 9/10
How does this book relate to my magickal practice?: As I mentioned before, I’ve been in a rut/funk/yucky place whatever you want to call it, and I’ve been needing to get out of there as it’s not been good for me. So when I saw this book I said “Let’s give it a go, you’ve been wanting to delve deeper into the craft, so this is a twofer”.
My personal thoughts/opinions: It’s been excellent. She’s good about giving adaptations for those who may not have access to certain materials and there’s flexibility to make the rituals your own. And there’s been so many points that made me really sit and think. And it’s practical and common sense as well, like taking safety seriously, and that sometimes in the morning you don’t feel grateful and are inclined to be thinking “Oh fork”, not “I’m so grateful”. She admits she doesn’t go for the “woo” angle, and for those of us who were raised in the sciences, it’s relatable.
I’ve gotten to try so many different things: I’ve cleansed the house with salt and an herbal spray, I’ve made a poppet, I’m starting to incorporate more morning ritual and meditation (with the realization that I’m not coherent 1st thing in the morning), and there’s a lot more I want to try.
She also talks a lot about the marriage of the magical and mundane, you can do all the spells you want to get a job, but you’ve also got to send out resumes to get a job. She also talks a lot about how magic is empowering, and how sometimes toxic positivity creeps in and we need to soundly reject it.
An interesting quote from the book: Do I have to pick only 1? It’s quite lengthy so I’m going to paraphrase.
"Modern spirituality can quickly turn into a contest of who can be more forgiving/loving/positive when bad things happen. There’s nothing wrong with those goals, but this is undiscerning (aka toxic) positivity and is not effective.
If bad things have happened to you, it had nothing to do with your vibes, worldview, or amount of effort you’ve invested. We all have a tendency to experience the consequences of our actions, but some things are completely and totally beyond our control. No matter what your beliefs are, sometimes bad things just happen.
Much like those bad things, trauma is difficult to define because it’s multi-faceted. It can be from one event or many, it may be concrete or vague.
But it’s entirely subjective. Other people cannot define your experiences or judge the marks that they’ve made upon you. When dealing with trauma, there’s no room for comparisons, judgment, or expectations regarding the “right” way to heal. Despite the current cultural climate that favors toxic positivity and the use of spirituality to bypass negative emotions, the very best thing you can do for your own recovery is to hold space for your trauma rather than invalidating them and pushing through. You can recognize that lingering in pain may not be serving you while still giving yourself the patience to heal from it on your own terms.
Magic can be a wonderful part of the healing process as it’s about empowerment. Many of the things we experience stem from an imbalance of power, and by means of magic we can transmute those things as a way to take power back. But a wise witch knows the critical importance of help and safety, reaching out for support, and engaging professional and legal help if needed."
All in all, would I recommend this book?: Yes, and I’m going to continue working through it.
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Wild Magic by Danu Forest
I loved this book… I highly recommend it if you are interested in going down the Green witch path or are already on it. Lots of things to try and a great way of meditating which I always struggle with but I actually managed to do a couple of practical exercises! Go me!
The Celtic folk traditions mentioned are very accurate, sometimes simplified with a modern twist. Lots of new Information which is always a pleasure to read… and of course lots of practical things to try!
I think I’ve covered everything… I don’t want to say too much and spoil the sense of mystery and excitement of a new journey when reading a new book. Definitely a book I’ll pick up again and again!
Any questions give me a shout!
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@gemma7 I also loved this book by Danu Forest! I love her works & have another of her books. I really want to enroll in her class… but that will have to wait for now 
I do have it on my list of courses that I am going to be taking when I finish my current one though! 
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I have that very book and love it as well! I am a multiple book at one time person so I have books everywhere! Every time I pick up Wild Magic I get lost in it. I love fairies, I always have. Danu Forest is a incredible writer.
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Book Title and Author: House Witch by Arin Murphy-Hiscock
Status? : Finished
My overall rating of the book : 9/10
How does this book relate to my magickal practice?: The book is all about creating a sacred space (or spaces) within your home. Since most of my magick is currently performed within my home, it was perfect reading as I try to craft a practice that feels right for me and less about the things I think I should be doing. It talks about creating sacred spaces, creating rituals for the hearth and home, how important the heart is and what you can do with it, seasonal living, kitchen gods and goddesses (including Hestia! 
) and more.
My personal thoughts/opinions: This is a book I feel like I could read 10+ times and still gain information from. It made me question certain beliefs I had about our home (especially in regards to being a WAHM. I started to see what I do each day in a very different light which was unexpected and appreciated!) I struggle hard to be mindful with my cooking and kitchen tasks and this book made an impact on how I move about my kitchen. I still have a lot of work to do, but I’m loving the progress!
All in all, I feel like the book broke down some easy (and hard) things to make practicing magick at home/in the kitchen significantly easier for me. And with my monkey mind, I’ll take all the help I can get!
An interesting quote from the book: “Hearthcraft functions on a very basic truth: Living your life is a spiritual act.”
While the quote itself isn’t anything special, it’s from the beginning of the book and in a lot of ways set the tone of the book for me. I don’t have time for elaborate magick most of the time and this quote reminds me that just living - the daily, simple tasks that feel “mundane” even - can be spiritual and magickal.
All in all, would I recommend this book?: Yes
And I didn’t finish the other one (The Magickal Family.) I’ll probably add it to the next reading period!
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I’m adding this to my To Read list - sounds interesting!
Ooh, this one looks like a good read! I don’t always have access to certain materials so that sounds super helpful. Adding to my To Read list!
I’ve been learning a lot about Greek mythology and gods over the past month so this sounds amazing. I’m really excited to look for this one soon.
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The book is a bit on the expensive side but it’s worth every penny!
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I’ve had a light interest in Alchemy- it certainly sounds really cool, so it is fascinating to hear that it is still quite useful and of interest to herbalists/green witches! Looking at what you’ve explored, it does seem like there are many things that overlap or at the very least provide inspiration for those in the practice. I might have to look into more Alchemy research going forward! 
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts despite being on the road- wishing you safe and successful travels, @Wysteria_Norn! 
I can feel the respect and love you have for this deity in your words, @stephanieanne76- it is clear that you are very mindful in your practice and that you are putting in a very good effort to learn all you can about Brighid! I’m so glad to hear you are enjoying the book so far and that it is helping you feel connected with yourself and your spirituality.
And yes, absolutely- please feel free to continue reading this into next session! I hope it continues to be an enjoyable read for you 
Hahaha it happens! No worries- if it’s a good one, then keep on plugging away at it into the next session. I hope it’s an enjoyable read for you! 
WOW! It’s broken the rating scale and exploded into a whole new category- what a read! 
Awww Amethyst I am thrilled that you found such a great book and enjoyed it so much- it sounds like it is completely loaded with valuable info about the Greek Pantheon.
May I ask if there was any information/deities that surprised you? Did you discover any new deities of interest? It really sounds amazing- I’m going to have to look this one up! 
The best books are the ones we enjoy time and time again- I’m happy that this one brought back a lot of positive memories for you, Siofra! It sounds like it helped to rekindle your devotion and dig back into interesting aspects about working with Brighid. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts!
Good for you for giving it a go and jumping in, Catherine- I’m so happy the book has been living up to your expectations! It sounds like the author’s writing style is very digestible and that the book has a lot of key and important information about working magick into daily life. From the quote/paraphrase you shared, I think I would like the author’s writing style a lot too. She sounds down-to-earth and clear, but also encouraging and helpful.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on the book so far- I hope you continue to enjoy it right up to the final page!
Congrats on your successful meditations, Gemma! Meditating sure can be tricky, but it sounds like the advice and suggestions in this book were really helpful- I’m glad you enjoyed it so much!
I also read a Green Witch book this session but it’s such a fun area to explore that I’m always happy to hear about another good green magick read- thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on Wild Magic!
Ohhhh I was so excited to hear your thoughts about this one and now I’m even more excited about the book having read your review- it sounds like a really solid book to have on the shelf! And I agree 100% with what you said about feeling like you could read it 10+ times- even while I was reading The Green Witch I caught myself flipping back to re-read a section. These books are great to read, and also really useful as long-term reference material 
Thank you so much for your thoughts on House Witch- I really want to get a copy for myself!
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Book Title and Author: The Green Witch by Arin Murphy-Hiscock
Status? : Finished- and I know I’ll be using it as reference material in the future!
My overall rating of the book : 10/10
How does this book relate to my magickal practice?: This book is a solid and thorough introduction to green magick. But although it is written in a way that is geared towards beginners, there is a lot of material and information that is useful for green witches at any stage of their practice.
My personal thoughts/opinions: I really enjoyed this one- the author writes in such a friendly and encouraging way that would make anyone feel at home. There is no “a green witch must do XYZ” here- everything is left open for the reader to pick up and use at their own will. While there is guidance, the choice is left in your hands. It’s less like listening to a lecture than it is like listening to a friend or gentle mentor and I really enjoy this style
For the book itself, it is broken into different categories- some, like the information about the Sabbats for example, read like a story. Other parts of the book serve mostly for reference- the appendix has a great list of the magickal associations of some common herbs, for example (that has already proven to be quite useful!)
It is LOADED with recipes, spells, rituals, and meditations. Even if green magick isn’t something you are interested in, I imagine the collections here would still be of use
An interesting quote from the book:
“We must remember that eating is a sacred act. In consuming a food, be it animal based or plant based, we forge a connection with nature, the source of nourishment. By taking this nourishment into our bodies, we also honor nature’s presence within our lives, and acknowledge our place within the natural order. Harvesting and preparing food are also sacred acts…”
Had to cut myself off- I could honestly quote the whole section about food and food gratitude (heck, I’m tempted to quote the whole book!), there is a lot of good information and reminders to digest (ha 
)
All in all, would I recommend this book?: Yes! For anyone who considers themselves to be a green witch, is interested in connecting more with nature, enjoys kitchen magick, studies herbalism, or simply wants some extra spells and rituals for their collection- this is a recommended read
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I really liked the short little details of what an average person would do on getting up in the morning, like praying to Hestia that the hearth was still going, thanking Helios for brightening the day, and things like that.
It pointed out that the abduction of Persephone was how men commonly got wives back in those days, but that she came into her own power and became an important figure in the Underworld.
It was just interesting all over!
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It sounds like the book has some great ideas for everyday worship and bringing a little magick into each morning- that’s really useful! And I’m always a fan of any version of Persephone’s story that gives Her more power and control- those versions resonate a lot more with me and what I know about Her 
Thanks again for all your thoughts about the book- I hope someday it and I will cross paths and I’ll get a chance to read it! 
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You’re welcome, my dear! It was a great read, I’m glad to have shared it!
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I have this book and love it, for exactly all the reasons you stated!!!
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Oh yay! It is a very fun read- I’m glad you enjoyed it too!
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I ended up not reading Witchcraft for Daily Self-Care. The three books were essentially the same, just with different covers. After skimming them, I didn’t feel like I would learn anything so choose not to read them.
Happy Witch I did read and loved. The book is broken into six chapter, each one covering an “element of being that leads to thriving”:
Be Free by laying the groundwork for a magically empowered mindset.
Be Wild by connecting with nature and leaning into rewilding as a source of joy.
Be Playful by inviting play and creativity into your life through spells and rituals designed to heal and delight your inner child.
Be Still by unearthing bliss in the quieter work of your witchy practices, exploring your shadows to find the light.
Be Connected by using relational magic to enjoy your connections with yourself and others on a deeper level.
Be Soulful by embodying the magic you want to see in the world.
Each chapter has tons of great information related to each element as well as activities for you to do to embrace that activity. My favorite was the “Recognize the Rules That Were Meant for Breaking” (from the Be Free section), which helps you identify the rules/expectations that govern your life and if they are truly serving your higher purpose.
I’m in the process of re-reading it and really absorbing all the information.
Bonus: it is free with Kindle Unlimited
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While I’m sorry to hear that Witchcraft for Daily Self-Care wasn’t what you were hoping for, I’m thrilled that you enjoyed Happy Witch! It has such a cute name haha
Looking at each of the chapters, it looks like a book that has helpful life advice and soul guidance that anyone could benefit from. Each of the topics sound interesting and fun in their own way. I think I’ll be adding this one to my want-to-read list 
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, @Amaris_Bane- I’m really glad it was a good read for you!
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This collection of book reviews covers sessions I ~ XXV (1 to 25) of the Spells8 Book Club.
After reading all the reviews- do you have a witchy book in mind? Join the current session of Book Club in the Activities Category!