I like the sounds of this book!!
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Book Title and Author: Beginnerâs Guide To Runes by: Josh Simonds
Status? : Finished â the rest of the book is the basic spreads layout & additional resources.
My overall rating of the book : 10 /10
How does this book relate to my magickal practice?: I have gained interest since learning about the Morrigan, Celtic Paganism, & helping my family member with the Norse Pantheon. Then when I found out that you can use them for so many different facets of magic, my interest got stronger.
My personal thoughts/opinions: I love the way that the book is written from the authorâs point of view & his experiences. Almost like he is sitting with you & teaching you about the runes. It gives examples for other uses & runes that would be complimentary in a bindrune or other talisman.
An interesting quote from the book: âRunic magic is far more than divination & inscribing on talismans or amulets. You can create & maintain a rune altar, you can meditate with runes, and you can even intone them or ingest them on food. Runic magic can be a solitary practice, or it can be a form of magic to use as a complement to other types of magic.â
All in all, would I recommend this book?: Yes absolutely
I may start another book, but Iâm not going to enter it until the next book club. I have a busy couple of weeks starting tomorrow, & I donât know that I will finish the book.
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Look at you go, @Susurrus- youâre amazing! 
Youâve been reading so much about your passions and it sounds like youâre learning a ton of new information about the Morrigan and runes, good for you! 
It sounds like Beginnerâs Guide to Runes is definitely worth a read for anyone interested in working with runes- thanks so much for sharing your review! 
Iâll move it over into the Readerâs Review post as soon as it goes live next Friday 
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**Book Title and Author: Witchcraft Therapy: Your Guide to Banishing Bullsh*t and Invoking Your Inner Power By Mandi Em
Status? : Finished
My overall rating of the book : 10/10
How does this book relate to my magickal practice?: For me it was that sit down hash through the clutter of my life, the mundane routines, and connect with the witch within me.
My personal thoughts/opinions: It has heightened my belief in my own power I hold within myself. It confronted monotone repeated statements that looped in my thoughts sometimes, and instilled a confidence that I can build upon. Any resource that heightens our belief in ourselves and our own power or capability is a great thing in my eyes.
An interesting quote from the book: There were so many good statements and spells/rituals in this book, but a strong one was in the very beginning:
" The cornerstones of witchcraft arenât Mason jars and splattered bits of wax: They are personal growth, healing, and a respectful reverence for the natural world and your unique place within it."
Em, Mandi. Witchcraft Therapy: Your Guide to Banishing Bullsh*t and Invoking Your Inner Power (p. 8). Adams Media. Kindle Edition.
All in all, would I recommend this book?: Definitely!
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Book Title and Author: Wild Magic: The Wildwood Tarot Workbook by Mark Ryan and John Matthews.
Status? : Finished.
My overall rating of the book: 7/10.
How does this book relate to my magickal practice? : It goes with my Wildwood Tarot cards to help me learn them.
My personal thoughts/opinions: Sad to say this book went over my head a lot. There is a whole chapter on quantum physics and psychology and how it applies to the tarot. But what I understood of it, I liked. There are several different spreads, and guided meditations that go with them. An interesting book.
An Interesting quote from the book: âA wise man once said, âPeople hate in others what they fear most in themselves,â and not all aspects of the denizens of The Wildwood Tarot are immediately welcoming or comfortable. Some are daunting, assertive, or cunning. By their very nature some are challenging, raw, and primal. Whether we engage in these energies is, in the final analysis, a personal choice. But if we are aware of their true nature, strength, and qualities, we can recognize these traits in others, even if we choose not to connect or harness them for our individual goals or needs.â
All in all, would I recommend this book? : Yes, if you have the tarot deck. Without the deck, youâll be lost.
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Book Title and Author: The Inner Mysteries - Progressive Witchcraft and Connection With The Divine by Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone
Status? : Finished
My overall rating of the book : 10/10
How does this book relate to my magickal practice?: This book is one of the most informative and influential books for me especially concerning the visualization of a Wiccan cosmology and working with deity as well the wheel of the year and energy work.
My personal thoughts/opinions: While some books by Janet and Stewart Farrar can be a rather challenging but informative read, this book by Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone is still highly informative but I didnât need to keep the dictionary nearby to get through it. There are also several helpful illustrations and photos.
An interesting quote from the book: âWe are not separate from the divine, or from the dynamic, ongoing process of creation. The saying âThou art God/Goddessâ is often used by Neo Pagans. This is not to say we are deities in our own right (we find this to be a very egotistical concept). It simply means the divine is in us, just as it is in every aspect and part of creation.â
All in all, would I recommend this book?: Yes
I found this visualization and its explanation very helpful.
The idea of seasonal power tides in this illustration feels right to me.
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Book Title and Author: Intuitive Witchcraft by Astrea Taylor
Status? : Finished
My overall rating of the book : 9/10
How does this book relate to my magickal practice?: This book relates to my practice because Iâm intuitive but still learning to trust the messages I receive.
My personal thoughts/opinions: This book was helpful because it has journaling exercises that help you watch for the triggers that make you step in and out of your intuition. It had information on societal conditioning which I think we all have dealt with from time to time. It had a chapter on energy flips which is basically when a negative instance happens you find the positive in it, because there are always positives in a negative. We canât have one without the other. Also a part on Cosmic Downloads which I believe in totally because it has happened to me. Many ancient cultures believe that ideas and creative ideas of all kinds are floating in the ether. These ideas are for anyone to grab, so itâs important to know that when you have a great idea for something you should act on it or it will end up being someone elseâs.
It reminded me of a story I read about this man who was a composer. He was composing this beautiful piece of music. He would work to make money to buy the resources he needed to concentrate on this beautiful piece. So one day his friend comes over and he listened to what this man composed. To his friend it was perfect. His friend told him he should record it. But the man felt it wasnât quite right yet. One day his friend was listening to the radio and he heard his friends music. So he called him to congratulate him for his success, but his friend didnât understand what he was talking about because he wasnât finished with his music yet. So basically, the music was composed by someone else and they in turn received the credit for it. I thought it was very interesting.
An interesting quote from the book: âEveryone was born with intuition. Thereâs something inside of us that feels energy and spirituality, and we can use that to create positive change in our lives.â
All in all, would I recommend this book?: Yes.
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Book Title and Author: Year of the Magickal Dragon by Virginia Chandler
Status? : Finished
My overall rating of the book : 8/10
How does this book relate to my magickal practice?: I have only just started to explore working with Dragon magic, this book was a first look into the subject matter for me.
My personal thoughts/opinions: I most enjoyed the meditations. I would have liked a more in depth look at the practice but itâs an enjoyable read and was a good place to start thinking about dragons. The descriptions of different cultural sites related to dragons would have benefited from a few photos. There is also a bit of repetition of the same info throughout the book and the rituals are somewhat dry and minimal in their writing. A fun book but maybe needs a little more meat on the bones?
An interesting quote from the book: âSince dragons can (and do) resonate with all of the elements, including and especially spirit, working with dragon energy requires a very specific practice.â
All in all, would I recommend this book?: Yes
I love the cover art by Anne Stokes!
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Book Title and Author: Rediscover the Magick of the Gods and Goddesses - Revealing the Mysteries of Theurgy - (a tour-de-force study of the history and modern practice of ritual magick) by Jean-Louis de Biasi
Status? : Finished
My overall rating of the book : 10/10
How does this book relate to my magickal practice?: This book fits right into my own beliefs and practices. Although the majority of the gods and goddesses portrayed in this book are of Greek nature, where I follow a more Egyptian practice, most of the gods and goddesses can be traced back further to Egyptian deities. This is the same when it comes to Roman and even Norse gods and others.
My personal thoughts/opinions: I thought this book was fascinating to read. It is not wicca/witchcraft but more theurgic/pagan in nature which is traced to the Aurum Solis (a western mystery tradition) and Hermeticism.
The book contains good historical information about these mystery traditions, astrology and gods and goddesses. It is a really good book to initiate yourself in the knowledge required to be more pagan in nature with ritualistic practices and exercises you can follow in your daily life to connect with the divine externally and internally.
This book also goes through all the planetary days and hours in detail (though more detail is available in another of his books by the Aurum Solis) - and it also touches on other traditions, such as Leviâs work, the Golden Dawn and Freemasonry.
This book also discusses the pentagram and how to Invoke/Activate as well as Banish/Deactivate all the elements using the pentagram symbol and touches on the wheel of the year and the corresponding zodiac along with their elements so you know which elements you might need less of, or more of during a ritual.
The book also goes through Birth and Reincarnation and the path of return, which is the real goal of Theurgy. To be able to prepare for death, and perhaps return in another life with memories and skills from prior lives.
An interesting quote from the book: âI believe that the universe is eternal. It did not begin at some point in the past and it will never end. It is composed of many parts that are organised together and harmonised into a unique whole. It was created to be the most perfect it can be and there is nothing to add that would make it more perfect. It always remains steadily the same - in its original state - and it continues to be eternally immutable.â
All in all, would I recommend this book?: Yes
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Sorry @BryWisteria
I failed to participate this month for my work pressure. I will participate at nect month. When it will be started?
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@Princess_Tara No worries at all- I know it is a very busy time of year! Hope your work is going well
As for the next session:
Wow! So many amazing reviews! 
Many thanks to @Rowan, @Amethyst, @Valen, @Christine13, and @Temujin_Calidius for sharing your books and thoughts! 
It looks like all of the books (aside from the one still being read- I hope The Crooked Path gets better for you, Valen!) were a pretty good read with all ratings being 7 and up! Looks like everyone was able to find some wonderful new resources for their magickal paths
These reviews are a blessing for all those looking for good witchy books to read- thanks again for sharing! 
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Iâve got another book Iâve just about finished for this month! I hope to finish it today actually. Iâm almost done! LOL!
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Yes, end is well, so all is well. November gone means stress gone. Now recaptutation time with books. 
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Book Title and Author: Dark Goddess Craft: A Journey Through the Heart of Transformation by Stephanie Woodfield.
Status? : Finished
My overall rating of the book : 9/10
How does this book relate to my magickal practice?: I want to work on my shadow this winter and I figured this was a wonderful book to start out with.
My personal thoughts/opinions: This is a great book if you work with the Dark Goddesses or if you just want to catch a glimpse at your own shadow. There are several guided meditations in this book that makes me wish it came with the audio for them. All in all though, a great book!
An interesting quote from the book: âThere is no such thing as a happy ever after, because we are constantly growing and changing. More than likely the person you were five years ago is not the same person you are now, nor will you be the same five years in the future. The changes arenât always dramatic, but they are there nonetheless.â
And:
âWhen working with the dark goddess, itâs important to recognize you will be afraid. When we understand our fears and learn to control our reactions to it, we can master this emotion.â
All in all, would I recommend this book?: Yes
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Wow, you did it in perfect timing, @Amethyst- congrats on finishing Dark Goddess Craft ! 
It sounds like a lovely book for both deity work and Shadow Work. And I like that it comes with meditations too- a bonus! 
Ohhhh Iâm curious, as these days the first âDark Goddessâ that comes to mind is Hekate- may I ask if the book focuses primarily on Her, or does the book explore other Dark Goddesses equally (perhaps the Morrigan/Morana, etc?) 
Thanks so much for your review!
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Hekate and Badb, a face of the Morrigan are mentioned, but so are Kali, Persephone, Sedna, Oya, and many others. Some Iâve never heard of and arenât going to even try to spell. LOL.
There are ritual baths, and other spells included, to help you face your shadow. Itâs a really good book, Iâd recommend it!
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Oh wow- that is a lot of goddesses to explore! It does sound like an amazing book, @Amethyst- thanks again for your review and the recommendation! 
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Youâre welcome! Itâs really great book to start out shadow work with!
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Book Title and Author: Celtic Tree Magic Ogham Lore & Druid Mysteries by: Danu Foresgt
Status? : Finished
My overall rating of the book : 9 /10
How does this book relate to my magickal practice?: I started learning about the Runes & a big part of my practice is Celtic derived. Learning the Ogham & different Celtic/Druid techniques for their uses & also for grounding & meditation are something that I am feeling more of a connection to as I learn more.
My personal thoughts/opinions: The book covers all of the meanings or interpretations of each symbol & Druid mastery exercises & how to cast & interpret the staves.
An interesting quote from the book: âŚâBloddeuwedd is said to attempt murdering Llew with her lover Gronw & is turned into an owl by Gwydion as punishment. This reveals Bloddeuwedd as a fierce & strong female character, a force of nature rather than a passive creation of men. Her Duality as flower maiden/owl woman show her to be far more complex & probably a far more ancient Goddess than the story suggests at first glance. There are several tales where a goddess is fought over by two male consorts who each have their divine roles, often related to Summer & Winter, or the world Above & the Underworld.â
Pages 20 -21
(When I first read this passage, I immediately thought of Persephone)
All in all, would I recommend this book?: Absolutely to anyone wishing to follow a more Celtic path or to learn about their Divination with Ogham Trees & Staves
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I finished my next book for this Session!
Book Title and Author: The Spirit of Celtic Gods & Goddesses: Their History, Magical Power, & Healing Energies By: Carl McColman & Kathryn Hinds with a foreword by Courtney Weber
Status? : Finished (Finally, 3rd time is the charm 
)
My overall rating of the book : 8 /10 I gave the book an 8 due to the obvious bias, confusion, or both of the Morrigan being associated with eroticism. Clearly taking the stories, myths, legends out of context for at the very least her encounter with the Dagda on Samhain.
How does this book relate to my magickal practice?: I am studying Celtic Paganism & Spirituality. I also currently honor Brighid & the Morrigan & continue learning about the Celtic Pantheon & the polytheism aspect of Celtic Spirituality. However, right now in my life, I have a balance with happenings & events & both Goddesses that I Honor make their presence known each day at before different things go on or just for comfort I suppose.
My personal thoughts/opinions: (This is my personal view) A similar context is used for Medb who is not one of the Morrigan sisters but a goddess of eroticism, she was known for sexual encounters in her associated stories but they are not the same person in their stories as the Badb, Nemain, Macha can be directly associated with the Morrigan as sisters & create any part of her identity.I can follow most of the book, the parts about some of the deities, from what I have learned from other sources, is more speculative than based on the time of the occurrences.
An interesting quote from the book: âThis is magic indeed. It is motivated by love; informed equally by knowledge & wisdom; powered by a focused, well-trained will; and carried out by means of words whose potency is increased by their poetic form and their sung utterance. This magic sees beneath appearances & recognizes possibilities. It is a change of consciousness that changes the word.â (pg 168)
All in all, would I recommend this book?: Absolutely, it gives a starting point to working the Celtic Gods & Goddesses & following a Celtic path.
I added my next book, another 3rd time is the charm book. I remember when I tried to start these books, they were so hard for me to settle into & now itâs like the connection is really there & where my path is taking me.
@christine13 I will be looking forward to what you think of the book also, I am now reading (restarting) the same book you are! Happy reading! (Tending Brigidâs Flame)
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