Review: Beltane by Melanie Marquis

Title: Beltane

Author: Melanie Marquis

Publisher: Llewellyn

Source: Press Review Copy

ISBN: 9780738741932

Purchase: Amazon

Rating 3/5

Llewellyn’s Sabbat Essentials series explores the old and new ways of celebrating the seasonal rites that are the cornerstones in the witch’s year.

A well-rounded introduction to Beltane, this attractive book features rituals, recipes, lore, and correspondences. It includes hands-on information for modern celebrations, spells and divination, recipes and crafts, invocations and prayers, and more!

In agricultural societies, Beltane marked the start of the summer season. We all have something we want to harvest by the end of the year—plans we are determined to realize. Beltane is the time to put our plans into action, and this book will show you how.

Beltane is my favourite Pagan festival, probably because it's famously known for Love and Romance and I'm a sucker for romance and love. This book is very much for the serious practitioner and not just a weekend pagan. It's very in depth and I really have no idea where to start with this one.

I particularly loved the recipes and crafts chapters and also the spells and divination section as I love divination. The chapters on the lore and history of Beltane is a must read and shouldn't be skipped. It's good practice to have the theory down before you go start crafting! 

No matter the time of the year we are at I always like making plans for the future. Now for example I'm planning my Autumnal time and how I want to spend it, things I want to do, try, learn and achieve, and this book has given me handy tips on how to plan my year... that although this book is about Beltane, I feel able to take the practices with me throughout the year.

A really good book that I recommend to anyone serious about learning more about the festivals. 

Please do not copy any of the reviews or posts without prior permission. Publishers and Authors may freely use content from this blog to help with their promotions © 2015

Review: Holistic Energy Magic by Tess Whitehurst

   

Title: Holistic Energy Magic 

Author: Tess Whitehurst

Publisher: Llewellyn

Source: NetGalley 

Rating: 4/5

Purchase: Amazon

Learn to work magic and manifest your desires anytime, anywhere. Interweaving New Age techniques with Pagan sensibilities, Tess Whitehurst incorporates diverse modalities such as color energy, symbol interpretation, and visualization. Use the power of your own mind, body, and spirit as well as crystals, herbs, and flowers to achieve positive conditions in your life.

Organized into two sections, Holistic Energy Magic provides magical foundations and a spellbook of charms and invocations for success, love, health, and happiness. Enhance your spiritual path by fostering a strong relationship with the five elements. Develop relationships with magical allies, including angels, ancestors, and even animals. From cleansing your home to aligning with the divine, this accessible guide helps you create the magical life you want.

Is there anything that Tess cannot write about that isn't utter magic in how it transforms your life?

I have long been a fan of Tess Whitehurst's work and there is something charming about the way in which she delivers practical, down to earth ideas in a way that makes you know that your life will be improved by implementing them.

I enjoyed the new approach to this topic from Tess, in that she really does show you that to change your life and add a touch of magical charm to your life, you don't need to spend ridiculous amounts of money, or any in some circumstances. Holistic Energy Magic is just that... holistic, and magical. I love how you can use simple things such as herbs in your garden, a simple incantation to the angels or wear a crystal to enhance your life.

Highly recommended for anyone who wants to add a touch of everyday charm to your life.




Please do not copy any of the reviews or posts without prior permission. Publishers and Authors may freely use content from this blog to help with their promotions © 2015

Review: Crystal Resonance by Kerry Nelson Selman

Title: Crystal Resonance 

Author: Kerry Nelson Selman

Publisher: Llewellyn 

ISBN: 9780738743943

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 4/5 

Purchase: Amazon 

Crystal Resonance explores how combining the gifts from Mother Earth can enhance our connection to higher guidance, Higher Self, Spirit, or Archangels. Vibrational wellness and wellbeing are restored and we are empowered to embrace a life of purpose, grace, and wonder of All That Is.

The synergy of specific combinations of crystals, essential oils, flower essences, and practices facilitate our reconnection with all that we are in this life-enhancing book. Self-responsibility, self-determination, and self-worth are inherent in each of us as human beings, our birthright, and we get to choose every step of the way. The choice to enhance our innate connection with All That Is remains with each of us…for those who enjoy honoring the Spirit within, the synergy of the combined gifts from the Earth and Beyond are there just waiting to be explored and enjoyed.

What I think:

The book begins with a section on what I call the basics. These basics include; details on what energy is, how there is evidence backing up the energetic fields, chakras and how crystals come into it. I admit I skim-read this section as I am not new to the idea of working with crystal energy. 

The second section is where I really found myself devouring every word. Kerry really goes in depth detail on a few major crystals such as Amethyst, Citrine, Selenite, Black Tourmaline, and Red Jasper. I really enjoyed reading Kerry's own stories of the experiences she had with the crystals in each 'chapter' as it allowed the full extent to her guidance and recommendations come to life. As well as detailing the outline of each crystal, Kerry tells us about the flower essences, and archangels that work well with the energy. The most surprising part of the section was the charming yet powerful meditations (there are more than one for each crystal) contained at the end. 

I wholly recommend this book to both newbies and the more experienced user of crystal energy as after 10 years of working with these energies, even I learnt a lot from this book.



Please do not copy any of the reviews or posts without prior permission. Publishers and Authors may freely use content from this blog to help with their promotions © 2015

Practical Prosperity

 

 

Practical Prosperity Magick : Creating Success & Abundance by Ellen Dugan

 

Published by Llewellyn

 

RRP £14.99 from Amazon UK   $16.99 from Amazon US

 

 

I was absolutely thrilled to be given the opportunity to read and review this book months in advance of its publication. Llewellyn sent me a copy and instantly I devoured it. I couldn't put it down and throughout the day my Mum would ask me; "What's new with the money magick book?".

 

It quickly became an instant prosperity bible with its wealth of information and practical tips. Mum and I began applying those that felt important and felt relevant to us. Life certainly felt more abundant!

 

From lucky cats known as the Maneki Neko, and the meanings of the variety of colours, to altars and prosperity magick dedicated to Lakshmi, right down the crystals, candles and manifesting know-how, this book offers you all you could ask for and more! Universal cosmic Ordering in book form - the book that keeps on giving!

 

 

What I particularly loved about this book was the lesser known Goddesses of prosperity and abundance were introduced and discussed in depth, and Ellen gives you the practical steps, confidence and knowledge to get started on creating success and abundance instantly. I loved learning about the many different facets of prosperity magick, and loved reading the follow on to her Practical Protection. (Shhhh! She has another amazing book based on psychic abilities being applied practically coming next!!!).

 

If you want to add something magickal to your money magick rituals, or even create an air of abundance and success in your life (c'mon, who doesn't!) then I strongly urge you to purchase your copy of this magick green money book. It's worth every penny!

 

All written content on this blog is the work of © Dawn Brierley, Life Coach, Consultant, Intuitive Angel Therapist, Tarot Lover & Mentor

* A Witch and Her Broom*

A Witch without her broom is like a police officer without handcuffs - their sense of power becomes diminished.

Witches have long been associated with flying - whether its on a broom, or on the backs of animals or birds such as ravens, crows, or owls.
There are known Goddesses or Deities if you prefer, that are associated with broomsticks. As part of my own magickal development, just last month I worked with Baba Yaga who flew through the skies in a mortar and pestle whilst using her broom for spell work by sweeping the path behind her. Interestingly, a Chinese Goddess called Sao Ch'ing Niang also known as Lady of the Broom is thought to be in charge of the good weather (I'm suspecting a lot of research in to this Goddess will now commence as we all want good weather instead of the floods, fires and smog we've been having the world over or late). Farmer's used to call upon her to ensure healthy crops.

 

 



My last sample of Broomstick Goddesses is an Aztec Goddess, Tiazolteotl. She is involved in sweeping away the wrongdoings when called upon. Although she inspires sin, she is also actively involved in sweeping it away. So you see, the world over, despite cultural differences; A Witch and Her Broom are symbols of power, change and abundance.

So how can we use the broom in our craft?

So glad you asked. Brooms are most known for sweeping away negativity and also guarding your home by being placed upright thus invoking protection. But did you know that you can anoint the handle of your broom using oil and perhaps sprinkling a few drops on the bristles to add some extra witchy substance to your magickal broom workings?

You can use; Rosemary and/or Lemon for protection, Rose and/or Geranuim for Love, Peppermint and/or Cinnamon for prosperity - the list is endless. Follow your witchy senses and all the natural witch within to guide you.

It is bad luck to loan your broom to anyone, even a friend

As well as oils, you can perhaps weave and tie on herbs for added power to. And why not try decorating your broom a little more elaborately if you feel guided to and placement of the broom permits it. You could try hanging empty egg shells for Ostara perhaps with the blessing you wish to invoke written on them, butterflies and faeries for Midsummer, Holly for Yule, etc. go wild and decorate your broom in a way that feels empowering to you.

This is my broom that I decorated with Ivy that was growing in my garden. Also, there is lots of coloured ribbons invoking certain aspects of magick that I desired and a handmade twigged pentacle at the top of the handle.


 

 If you like the idea of working with a broom to enhance your witchcraft practice and would like more information including; wood selection, the making and buying of a broom, broomstick meditation, spell, rituals and charms, along with so much more valuable and practical information, then I can't recommend "The Witch's Broom" by Deborah Blake highly enough.

Published by Llewellyn, in paperback and kindle, it really is a witch's companion on working more deeply in your witchy practice, to develop the level you currently work at. Head to AMAZON UK or LLEWELLYN to order yours. I absolutely LOVE mine :)