Entertainment and Fun Page: Book Review

The following book reviews were graciously donated to the site by a class at witchschool.com.

Grimoire for the Green Witch

Author: Ann Moura ISBN: 0-7387-0287-0 Recommended By: Rhiannon of the Night Moonstone

Here we have a complete book of shadows that cover all the areas of divination and magick. Spells, teas, oils, baths, meditations, rituals, the history and study of the Green Witch and much more. It covers areas that are important to all Witches, such as Rules of Conduct, the Creed of a Green Witch, the different styles of Green Witchcraft, astrology, alters and Alphabets, coven terms and craft terms.

Herb Craft

Author: Anna Franklin & Susan Lavendar ISBN: 1898307571 Recommended By: Rhiannon of the Night Moonstone

This covers about 600 different herbs and their associations, how to use them in magick, pathworking, incenses, harvesting, drying and associations to the stations wheels, goddess/gods, power animals and how they are used in shamanism and vision work. History, myth and lore, common and official names.

Tarot for the Green Witch

Author: Ann Moura ISBN: 0738702889 Recommended By: Rhiannon of the Night Moonstone

This covers all the areas of tarot and how to combine associated divination tools such as astrology, numerology and more. Planets and plants. It helps you with pathworking and meditations of different cards, how to read the combination of cards that are together in a single spread and ways to prepare yourself and your cards. Most of the cards that are used in this book are from the Celtic or Green Origin of the Craft, but a great tool for both the beginner and advanced reader of the Tarot.

Seasons of the Witch 2003-2004 [Monthly Planner & BOS]

Author: Seventh House Publishing ISBN: 0-9702907-7-2 Recommended by: Rhiannon of the Night Moonstone

Ah, a Witches best planner for the week and month of every year. Full of information on herbs, rituals, spells, timing of planting, spell crafting, moons, poems, artists of the pagan way. Room for adding in your own spell crafting worked in each month, oil recipes and a full Witches Yearly BOS for the busy Witch and one that is on the move all the time. Excellent for both beginner and advanced Witch.

The Magus

Author: Francis Barrett ISBN: 0-87542-128-8 Recommended by Ariah

This book is in 3 parts: the first covers natural magick, the second covers a variety of subjects from the kabbalah, to magical seals, spirits, and circles. The third part is a compilation of biographies from philosophers, cabbalists and others. Not for the novice, this book is written in the old english, making it a tad hard to read.(I did so in small doses at a time lol)

The Complete Book of Incense, Oils and Brews

Author: Scott Cunningham ISBN: 0-87542-128-8 Recommended by Ariah

This book is a great starter book for anyone interested in brews, oils or making your own incense. It has recipes, and loads of info in a very easy to use format.

Crystal Balls and Crystal Bowls

Author: Ted Andrews ISBN: 1-56718-026-4 Recommended by Ariah

This book is divided into 2 parts, the first dealing with crystal balls, the second with crystal bowls. It has exercises to perform and is a very good book for anyone wanting to learn about these subjects.

Trancing The Witches Wheel

Author: Yasmin Galenorn ISBN: 1-56718-303-4 Recommended by Ariah

This is one of my faves. It takes you through the wheel of the year (albeit for the northern hemisphere) and has guided meditations for use, (great for groups), as well as the basics of meditation.

Earth Power

Author: Scott Cunningham ISBN: 0-87542-121-0 Recommended by Ariah

Another fabulous book by Scott. It has spells, rituals, and heaps of other things allowing you to work with the earth magic we all have in us.

Spiritual Simplicity

Author: David Yount ISBN: 0-684-84623-3 Recommended by Ariah

A book on taking a good look at yourself, your life, and who you are. One of the first books I bought on my path as a pagan, and one I have re-read many times.

Mastering The Tarot

Author: Paul Fenton-Smith ISBN: 0-7318-0859-2 Recommended by Ariah

An in depth look at the tarot, including history, meanings, and spreads, including designing your own spreads. If your starting on the tarot, this is a very good book.

Witchcraft For Tomorrow

Author: Doreen Valiente ISBN: 0-919345-83-2 Recommended by Ariah

Doreen worked in the Gardnerian path of Wicca, and this book is semi-biographical, including parts of her own BOS. It has discussion on other forms orders, and the relationship of Wicca.

The Arcadian Cipher

Author: Peter Blake & Paul S. Blizzard ISBN: 0-283-04288-1 Recommended by Ariah

This is a hard to categories book, but looks at art, the bible and other things and reveals paganism in places and things you would not have thought. A little heavy at times, nevertheless a good read.

Runes (The New Life Library)

Author: Andy Baggott ISBN: 1-85967-899-8 Recommended by: Rev. Alison Stanley

I highly recommend this book to beginners wanting to learn the basics about runes without going into too much detail. This book touches on divination, protection, healing and how to make your own rune sets. They are all explained in an easy format with pictures and there is a table of correspondences at the back for easy reference for each rune symbol. This has to be one of the easiest books to use and understand.

The Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time series)

Author: Robert Jordan ISBN: 1-85723-076-0 Recommended by: DRAGON LADY

Review: The whole series is amazing. Read between the lines to understand what is hidden from those who don't understand. New readers to the series will have enormous fun. I have 10 books in the series but I have been told there could be 12.

ARADIA or the Gospel of the Witches

Author: Charles G. Leland / Translation by: Mario Pazzaglini, Ph.D. & Dina Pazzaglini ISBN: 0919345344 Recommended by: Rev. Marjorie Ashby

This is an expanded edition. It has the original translation as done by C.G. Leland as well as a new translation by Mario Pazzaglini, PhD. Pazzaglini believes that errors were made in the original translation. This is his effort to correct those believed errors. The book has a lot of additional material written by other various persons. It is two translations in one book.

Wheels of Life - A User's Guide to the Chakra System

Author: Anodea Judith ISBN: 0875423205 Recommended by: Rev. Marjorie Ashby

This book explains each of the seven major chakras individually. Each chapter opens with a symbols/correspondence list and an opening meditation for that chakra. It then goes into detail on what each chakra is, how it works by itself and with the other chakras. There are also meditative & physical exercises. Each chapter ends with a recommended reading list for each chakra.

Eastern Body Western Mind - Psychology and the Chakra System as a Path to the Self

Author: Anodea Judith ISBN: 0890878153 Recommended by: Rev. Marjorie Ashby

This book dives into the psychological side of the chakras. It was written to show how to use the chakra system as a tool for diagnosis and healing. Each chakra has its own chapter that describes various character traits, traumas, symptoms, etc., and how to help heal them. It talks about individual chakras as well as how other chakras are affected by excess or deficiency in another.

Maiden, Mother, Crone

Author: D. J. Conway ISBN: 0875421717 Recommended by: Rev. Marjorie Ashby

This book talks first about why Myths are important. It then has the Maiden, Mother, & Crone in separate sections that cover what that aspect is, why you would call upon that aspect in magic and some representations; ending each section with several of the Myths for that aspect. It then does the same for the Goddess as multiples and the importance of the Goddess today. The book finishes with meditations and ritual for each Goddess aspect.

The Complete I Ching

Author: Taoist Master Alfred Huang ISBN: 0892816562 Recommended by: Rev. Marjorie Ashby

This is a newer translation. It covers a bit of history and a few different ways to use the I Ching. The Hexagram/Gua section is a treasure. It gives the ideograph, number, and the Chinese & English name for the Hexagram as well as for each Trigram that the Hexagram consists of. There are lengthy definitions from several sources as well as additional reference information.

How to use the I Ching

Author: Stephen Karcher ISBN: 1862041342 Recommended by: Rev. Marjorie Ashby

This book also explains the building of the Hexagram in very useful ways. It talks about the inner and outer worlds, finding the hidden possibilities, and opposing or opposite figures. It explains how to use the changing lines to get to these other meanings as well. The names of the gua and definitions are a bit different, but when used in correlation with other sources is useful.

Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom

Author: Rachel Pollack ISBN: 0722535724 Recommended by: Rev. Marjorie Ashby

This book covers a little history on how the tarot came to be and how to use it. It covers a few different types of readings, what they are for, and is excellent on explaining how to interpret them. And, of course it also has write ups for each card of the Tarot.

An ABC of Witchcraft

Author: Doreen Valiente ISBN: 0919345778 Recommended by: Rev. Marjorie Ashby

This is a reference book of Witchcraft terminology. It is simple to look up what information you are in need of because it is in alphabetical order.

The Encyclopedia of Witches & Witchcraft

Author: Rosemary Ellen Guiley ISBN: 081603849X Recommended by: Rev. Marjorie Ashby

This is a reference book of Witchcraft terminology, much like a dictionary. It is in alphabetical order. Simply look up what information you are after.

A Modern Herbal Vol. 1 A-H

Author: Maud Grieve ISBN: 0486227987 Recommended by: Rev. Marjorie Ashby

This is an herb book; volume 1 of 2. It contains numerous herbs (A-H) by common name in alphabetical order. It gives the herbs name and family in Latin, and a list of synonyms/folk names. It tells what parts are used and gives a description of the plant itself and how to cultivate it. It gives constituents, medicinal actions and uses, how to prepare it for use, and what the dosage should be. There is also a whole lot of history and folk lore.

A Modern Herbal Vol. 2 I-Z

Author: Maud Grieve ISBN: 0486227995 Recommended by: Rev. Marjorie Ashby

This is an herb book; volume 2 of 2. It contains numerous herbs (I-Z) by common name in alphabetical order. It gives the herbs name and family in Latin, and a list of synonyms/folk names. It tells what parts are used and gives a description of the plant itself and how to cultivate it. It gives constituents, medicinal actions and uses, how to prepare it for use, and what the dosage should be. There is also a whole lot of history and folk lore.

Wicca, A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner

Author: Scott Cunningham ISBN: 0875421180 Recommended by: Rev. Doug Roberts

This is a broad based book, covering a multitude of facets useful to the individual desiring to learn and practice the Wiccan craft. There are, of course, basic rituals and background on the wheel of the year and the Sabbats, as well as information on Esbats. But the best is helpful hints and directions for those not associated with a circle or Coven, those of us that may have to go it alone.

Herbal Defense

Author: Robyn Landis ISBN: 0446672424 Recommended by: Rev. Doug Roberts

This is a must for any serious herbalist. There is a section on basic herbs and where and how they grow, but mostly it is a very good reference book of preventative and healing herbs . It is cross indexed so you can locate an ailment and the various herbs used to treat them, or you can look at a specific herb and find what things it can be used to treat.

Your Perfect Right

Author: Alberti & Emmons ISBN: 0915166070 Recommended by: Rev. Doug Roberts

A wonderful guide and workbook on increasing assertiveness skills. It will gently wean one from controlling, passive/aggressive and subservient behaviors. It starts with the most basic ideas of why and how, with many exercises and examples that are directly applicable to daily life. Many councilors and therapists use and recommend it.

The Sacred Round

Author: Elen Hawke ISBN: 0-7397-01726 Recommended by: Amanda Watson

I call this book, well at least from my point of view a good mid-beginner book. It won't make you feel as stupid as say SRW would. It doesn't go over a whole lot of history, but more like a practical guide with great exercises.

The Summer Solstice

Author: John Matthews ISBN: 0-8356-0815-8 Recommended by: Amanda Watson

This is a great book I found on the Bargain Table and picked it up for $2.00. It is not part of the Llewellyn series, but does have lots of history and practices form around the world. It is a great source book.

Pagans and The Law

Author: Dana D. Eilers ISBN: 1-56414-671-5 Recommended by: Amanda Watson

This is a Wonderful book and of course how to handle a lot of difficult situations from, child custody, land lords, workplace to even worship on your own land, yes that's right on your own land and how to go about finding and getting the correct help you may need.

The Complete Book of Amulets And Talismans

Author: Migene Gonzalwz- Whippler ISBN: 0-87541-287-x Recommended by: Amanda Watson

History and Myths from around the world. Tons of info in this book from Astrology to magic squares to making your own, a great reference book.

Altars

Author: Denise Linn ISBN: 1-56414-671-5 Recommended by: WillowGypsy

Altars for everything from Ancestors to Vacation. Why they work and some history about them, the best thing I love about this book is the Pictures and diagrams. Things I would have never considered placing on my altar are now worked into my public and private altars. Great book.

Practical Solitary Magic

Author: Nancy B Watson ISBN: 0-87728-874-7 Recommended by: WillowGypsy

When I first Got this book Due to required reading for the teacher I had at the time, and the lesson that we had to do, I really came to despise this book, I think it was for the fact that I was new to my learning instead of just knowing, and really didn't grasp a lot of it right off, but over the years it has grown on me, as I have also grown and has come to be one of the more often read books in my library. Highly recommended!

Spiritual Cleansing

Author: Draja Mickaharic ISBN: 0-87728-531-4 Recommended by: WillowGypsy

As stated on the book this is a manual of Psychic first aid, with lots of household formulas on various subjects to cleansing your home, pets, and even eye strain (can it be from to much computer reading lol) all with eggs. Covers several aspects such as bath time, incense and mothballs of all things. All over a great book to have on hand.

Magical Aromatherapy

Author: Scott Cunningham ISBN: 0-87542-129-6 Recommended By: Rev. Anna Rowe

A very useful book on the natural fragrances of essential oils and herbs. A helpful guide on how to use fragrances and what parts of herbs to use in magical workings. Included is a list of dangerous herbs and oils and which ones are to be avoided.

Wylundt's Book of Incense

Author: Steven R. Smith ISBN: 0-87728-679-5 Recommended By: Rev. Anna Rowe

A complete instruction book on how to make all sorts of incense. How when and where to use the right herbs, includes common names of herbs, correspondences and recipes. With tips on drying herbs and the best way of storing them. A very worthwhile book to have in your magical library.

Secrets of Western Sex Magic

Author: Frater U D ISBN: 1-56718-706-4 Recommended By: Rev. Anna Rowe

This is a great addition to aid in not only the understanding of different ways of working with and mastering the energy/Chi in this form of High Magick, but covers rituals, exercises and ways to help overcome obstacles. Forms of dress, art, and ways of connecting with Spirit through this higher form of magick and ritual.

The Gentle Arts of Aquarian Magic: Magical Techniques to Help You Master the Crafts of the Wise

Author: Marian Green ISBN:90-6229-022-1 Recommended by Rev. Vera De Werk

Marian describes how simple it is to live magically. You don't have to do difficult rituals, studying books to be in contact with earth, you just have to take a walk for that. She goes back to the old ways, to the real pagan magic as it was, not written in books, but found in the use of songs, folklore, poetry, superstition, for ages and generations told. The accent is to do practical work and to have personal experiences. This is a book that you can work through on your own with a lot of exercises to repair your contact with nature and to make you reliable with the Old Goddesses and Gods from the Western World.

Heather, Confessions of a Witch

Author: Hans Holzer ISBN: 90-261-3022-8 Recommended by Rev. Vera De Werk

This is a fascinating book about how Heather became a witch. As a child she was paranormal and had some strange experiences. We follow her life, her work, the man. How a co-worker invited her home to meet other people with interest in ESP. That was a coven of course. How she learned to work with power, how to do spells, and the lady was gifted, and how she misused her power. If you can get this book, do! It is written in 1975 and very easy to read.

Wicca

Author: Vivianne Crowley ISBN: 90-215-1584-9 Recommended by Rev. Vera De Werk

Wicca the old religion for the new time. Vivianne weaves the old religion with the modern insights of Jung, who learned us about archetypes and synchronism. The book tells us about the root of Wicca, how to perform the circle, how to invoke the Gods, the female and the male, rituals, the degrees in Wicca, it has beautiful poems and a lot of information. It was my first book about Wicca and I still love it, because it gave my the answers I needed then.