The Witch’s Familiar Runic Oracle

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Witch’s Familiar Runic Oracle by author and artist Athene Noctua. Boxed set of 24 cards and guidebook. Published by Hay House. RRP US $12.99 : Can $17.50

The runes originally had a connection to nature and this connection is important in the reading so the book gives the rune letter, the god-form, and the animal. The book also provides information on runes for the beginner and I think this would make an interesting gift for a young and inquisitive person. The write-up gives explanation of the artwork combined with the rune, a handful of keywords, and offers a magical working. 

Sample: Ingwaz - Lion - Still, but with slowly building intensity, the full maned lion, is poised for action. He holds within himself, the potential for an explosive release of energy. He is the leader of his pride. If called to it, he will make the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the survival of the next generation. This rune is of growth, the spark of life, and the germinating seed. It has enormous creative potential, and is the fertile male representation, in balance with his female. If you receive this rune, consider taking time to create space for transformation and inner growth. It is time to build up your energy stores. An explosive expenditure of energy may be needed. In reverse, this rune can indicate impotence, immaturity, scattered energy, and a lack of forward movement. Keywords: creation, wholeness, harmony, evolution, energy, magical workings. This rune can function as a container or receptacle for energy, so on the full moon, consider inscribing it on a clear quartz stone before you charge it in the Moonlight.

Trick or Treat Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Card Deck Review: Trick or Treat Tarot by Barbara Moore, published by Llewellyn Worldwide. Quality boxed set of 78 cards and full colour Guidebook. UK £29.17 release date: 6th Dec 2022 

Sample: 10 The Wheel of Fortune: Generally, we know what kind of candy we have based on the wrapper. It’s nice when life is labelled clearly. But it doesn’t happen often. Mostly, we don’t know, which is one reason that people have a Tarot reading to tell the future. But sometimes, we must make a choice without reliable information, and then it is the luck of the draw. When this card comes up, be grateful because you are in for some good luck and you didn’t do anything to earn it. The best advice is common sense. You have a lucky break, so make good use of it. You can view it as a sign that things are going to change - it might be positive if you are at the bottom of the wheel or negative if you are at the top, since there is only one way to go from there! If you want to get philosophical about it, you might consider that good luck isn’t random. It’s a gift of fate (or possibly the fates) to help you move forward towards your destiny. Keywords: fortune, chance, opportunity, destiny, fate, good luck, change. Reversed: bad luck, misfortune, failure, unexpected setback, reversal, delay.

La Santa Muerte

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: La Santa Muerte Lenormand by Dan M Pelletier with illustrations by Callie L French. Published by REDFeather (Schiffer Publishing) US $ 24.99 : UK £22.99 Published 22nd Sept 2022

The ‘Lady of Holy Death’ oracle cards have a novelty magnetic closure box with eye cut-aways revealing the heads and shoulders of the dancing male and female significator skeletons of this deck. The pack contains a full colour guidebook and 36 illustrated cards without borders. They are the traditional Lenormand size (18cm x 23cm). Motifs are skeletons, skulls, scythes, the hour-glass, scales, tombs and graves, all to do with death and dying, plus flowers, bright colours, beautiful gowns, and that delights and creates fun by dancing and laughing. 

Tarot of the Sorceress

Mind Body & Soul Card Deck Review: Tarot of the Sorceress - A Witch’s Wheel of the Year by Berengere Demoncy. Boxed set of cards and guidebook. Published by Rockpool Publishing. 27/10/2022 £21.99

Justice. Sacred feminine. Keywords: normalisation, balance, rules, the law. The Justice card calls for balance or the restoration of balance, cutting through and separating what needs to be sorted. Through its symmetry it is also an invitation to bring greater clarity, stability and therefore balance to things. Justice is like a set of scales, represented here by two blossoming sleeves. The first is made up of chamomile, daisies, Indian marigolds, primroses, St John’s wort, heliotrope, bellflowers and cinq foil, all soft, springlike and blossoming. The other sleeve is covered with holly, ivy, chestnut burrs, and thorny dry yew  and brambles, representing the difficulties encountered in the dark and cold of winter when resources are lacking. The two bundles are almost symmetrical forming a balance of choices, obvious divergences and differing results. Balance is not always found in light or darkness; it grows between both worlds. 

Witching Hour Oracle

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Witching Hour Oracle - Awaken Your Inner Magic by Lorraine Anderson, illustrated by Olivia Burki, boxed set of cards and guidebook. Published by Rockpool Publishing date June 2023. US $24.99 : UK £18.99 ISBN 9781922785008

There is a deck published by US Games Systems Inc published June, 2022 with 39 cards with the title The Witching Hour by Cherie Gerdhardt.

This deck has a colour book which accompanies 44 cards. The set is trendy, young, attractive multi-cultural, you could say LGBTQ plus style images. The author provides her biography and how she came to create the deck, each card had meaning on her life journey. The deck can be used as an oracle in itself or with the Tarot as companion cards. The deck can be used with other card decks, where the reading is provided and a Witching Hour card is drawn for further guidance. Reversed cards are not used. 

Halloween Oracle

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Halloween Oracle by Stacey Demarco - Lifting the Veil Between the Worlds is Published by Blue Angel Publishing. Boxed set of 36 cards and guidebook.               31st October is the evening before All Hallows’. It is known as Halloween. This year, we have a full moon, ideal to cast shadows after dark! You are invited to ‘Experience the Scariest Night of the Year Every Night’! The cards are not numbered and carry only a title and subtitle on the face - to be read upright only - no inverted readings! Based on the philosophy that our awareness of death helps us to live our life with consideration, caring and joy, and helps us to prepare for the eventual day when our number is called by the powers that be.

Dark Grimoire Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Dark Grimoire Tarot by Giovani Pelosini and artwork by Michele Penco. Published by Lo Scarabeo.  

A Middle Ages Grimoire, the Necronomicon, styled Tarot deck! Hammer House of Horror meets your darkest side! The backs are H P Lovecraft image. No reversals (hardly needed)! 

You will find black magic is woven through these cards and nightmares will be generated as the unconscious mind is programmed by these gruesome images. 

For those who love to be disturbed, for those drawn to necromancy, and for those whose wish is to summon demons. Beware! It’s a life of death situation with every turn of the cards! 

Dark Goddess Craft Review and Extract

Mind Body & Soul Book Review: Dark Goddess Craft - A Journal Through the Heart of Transformation by Stephanie Woodfield. Published by Llewellyn Worldwide. 208 pages. RRP $19.99

“The dark goddess rules over the things we fear most!” “When we let go of the past, we allow the new to enter.”

I love this workbook and highly recommend it for men and women! Dark Goddess Craft teaches us to confront our shadow through the ancient goddess archetypes. It leads us to delve into our own darkness and emerge with greater self knowledge. When we let go of the past, we allow space for the new to enter, and then we change. Wisdom is acquired in exchange for our hurts. Death can live with us for transformation and healing. When we confront the shadow, we find out who we truly are! 

Deep, Dark & Dangerous Oracle

Mind Body & Soul Card Deck Review: Deep, Dark & Dangerous Oracle by Stacey Demarco, boxed set of 44 cards and guidebook, published by Rockpool Publishing, 13/10/2022 Computer graphics by Kinga Britschgi £17.99

The unknown and the Underworld feature in ancient myths and stories that teach us about our shadow selves, and the world of hidden mysteries. Not all that is positive is safe or healthy! Some positivity is false and toxic, some is so extreme that it blames victims for their desperate circumstances. By hiding our hurts, they don’t go away - they can grow stronger. We are called on to recognise hubris, revenge, disrespect for the land or for the gods, and instead develop our resilience, courage, faith, and kindness. Our fears of rejection, our anger and self hatred, can be transformed into understanding and appreciation of life and self. We are taken on a journey to ‘walk through the shadow of death’ as each card features a personification of darkness, for example Hades, The Morrigan, Vampire, Werewolf, Medusa, and others, and shows them in a new duality, of light and shadow.

Michael Meacher

Mind, Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Destination of Species - The Riddle of Human Existence by the late Michael Meacher MP Paperback: £9.99 251 pages 

Michael Meacher was a New College Oxford and LSE graduate, and a leftish Labour politician who almost became our Prime Minister during the Blair years (which I would have supported). He was Environment Minister from 1997-2003. He was a columnist for the Guardian newspaper and The New Statesman, has authored a book about the plight of elderly people in mental hospitals and here he examines the origins of the Universe, why we are here and where we are going. He examines a huge number of theories and perspectives, including the Big Bang, the formation of our planet, ideologies about an intelligent Creator, our development as human beings and what the future is likely to hold and why.

Turning the Templar Key

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Turning the Templar Key - Martyrs, Freemasons and the Secret of the True Cross of Christ by Robert Lomas 

The book opens to Martin Foulks’ glowing appraisal of Freemasonry and its charitable and self development aims, though fortunately, we don’t need to join a secret society with hidden handshakes, threats and a death ritual with knives and coffins to achieve a Christian life! 

The book begins with a fantasy of the morning of 13th October 1307 when the last Templar Grand Master was arrested by the soldiers of King Philip the Fair in the dormitory of the Paris Temple - the place where the royal valuables were kept for safety. Templar knights were monks. Priests are initiated, they say mass, and are. very different, though some monks were also priests, but not the Grand Masters, as one priest for a few dozen monks would have been adequate. Even with minimal criticisms, did I enjoy the content of the text? Yes, very definitely. It is beautifully written, and the author is a great story teller. 

Mists of Avalon Oracle

Mind Body & Soul Card Deck Review: Mists of Avalon by Rose Inserra, illustrated by Nadia Turner. Published by Rockpool Publishing. Boxed set of 36 cards with guidebook. 

Sample card: 12 The Holy Grail - Life Force, Wisdom. Be a beacon of light by walking the path. Shine bright with your magical soul, for all to see, feel, know and grow. The message is that there are new opportunities and beginnings presented to you. Be open to receiving the flow of life’s gifts. This is the time of conception, new beginnings, new love, birth, and a new cycle of life. Follow your personal soul quest, without losing sight of what holds the most value for you.

 

9 Dimensions of the Soul

Mind Body & Soul Book Review: The 9 Dimensions of the Soul - Essence and the Enneagram by David Hey

Published by: O Books Paperback: £10.99 168 Pages

Author website: http://sbpra.com/davidhey/

This is an insightful and in-depth book by a student of Baghvan Shree Rajneesh. Along with an introduction, Core Understandings and a History of the Enneagram are provided Hey explains that the Enneagram as a symbol that has represented a way of understanding the spiritual evolution of mankind. 'Essence' is explained as 'different qualities of being' and 'our true nature'. Essence is explained as a way to look at our individuality and that what 'defines the aspects of our true nature'.  I clearly understood what the author was discussing as his words were easy to understand from both a humanistic and spiritual perspective.

Feminist Spirituality - The Goddess

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review - Jailbreaking the Goddess - A Radical Revisioning of Feminist Spirituality by Lasara Firefox Allen, http://lasarafirefoxallen.com/ 267 pages Published by Llewellyn Books, $22.99 US

This is a fascinating and new 5 fold model to replace the traditional 'maiden, mother and crone' 3 fold aspects of the goddess.

The five new aspects introduced in this book are:

Femella - The Child
Potens - Woman of Power
Creatrix - She Who Creates
Sapientia - Woman of Art and Wisdom
Antiqua - The Ancient One

Ben Mijuskovic - Loneliness

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Loneliness in Philosophy, Psychology, and Literature by Ben Lazare Mijuskovic  is available on Kindle £2.52 with 309 pages and there is a FREE download of the book from the website.

This book focuses on the link between literature, psychology and philosophy throughout time and on humankind's ability to deal with loneliness. The author, Ben Mijuskovic, explores the various ways society uses loneliness, for example, "punishing" prisoners by isolation from others. The book discusses in detail the reasons why children fear being alone and how adults deal with a similar anxiety but do not share their concerns with others. The author is a Professor and this is very much reflected in the style of writing. The book provides in depth academic understanding and will be of great interest to students and fellow academics. Reviewer: Susan Griffiths

Card Reading for October

For this month. a card with the Number 21 titled 'The World' from The Mysteries of the Star majors only tarot deck by Philippe Rouchier. Its position, as the first chosen, is of fundamental influence in your present situation. This is a masculine energy, depicted as a strong, bare-chested man with long, flowing black and white hair and with a white beard and moustache. His eyes are hidden in shadow. He is holding in his hand a ball of energy. The traditional meaning of ‘The World’ card is wholeness, success and completion. This is a new beginning that will take place for you but the shades need to be lifted from your eyes in order for wisdom to be available, and for the energy to be used well. It is the card of maturity, of strength and wisdom. You hold this potential within your hands! Beware of the black and white hair, hair portraying strength in the myths. 

Book Extract: Rivers of Green Wisdom

Extract from the book ‘Rivers of Green Wisdom: Exploring Christian and Yogic Earth Centred Spirituality’ by Santoshan (pen name of) Stephen Wollaston. Published in the Green Spirit series in 2016.

There is an urgent cry for us to wake up and re-establish kinship with both our fellow humans and the natural world, with our global sister and brother species, such as many of the endangered and magnificent creatures walking and living on the African plains and living in the world’s ancient rain forests. Prophetic voices of our age, such as Thomas Berry, have called for recognition of a single Earth community, a single community of life. Berry emphasised the importance of ‘the great work’ that lies ahead. But great changes will only happen when people band together and get fully behind ideas. We only have to look at how the equal rights movement in America led to reforms in legislation. The seemingly impossible can be achieved when we have the vision

and driving force of prophets such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi. It is a difference between falling apart into hopelessness or finding empowerment through uniting and working together.

Seasons of the Witch Winter Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Seasons of the Witch Winter Tarot - A Journey through Yule and Imbolc By Lorraine Anderson. Illustrated by Tirana Lukovic. Boxed set of 78 Cards and full colour Guidebook. Published by Rockpool Publishing. RRP US $ 29.99 : UK £23.99 Visit: https://www.rockpoolpublishing.com/seasons-of-the-witch-winter-tarot

Quality box with shining blue highlights contains a full Tarot deck and guidebook which details how the four Seasons of the Witch Oracle decks and the four Seasons of the Witch Tarot decks came to be created. Here with the Winter Tarot, we have the season of rest, reflection, recuperation and transformation. The archetypes are ancient yet updated for the modern person living in today’s world. They remember the shadow self, the weaknesses and negativity that can ruin a life. So a question might be: What does my soul need to learn today? A One-card pull and three Six-card spreads are suggested. 

Dark Light Oracle

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Dark Light Oracle - The Path to Light Lies Through the Darkest Shadows by Alexandra V Bach & Carole-Anne Eschenazi, boxed set of cards and guidebook, published by US Games Systems Inc.  Card sizes: 13cm x 9cm. $22.95 : £17.99 

Sample card above - Holy Gate, No 40 “The doors of pure happiness will soon be opened. The path was long and sometimes very hard. You’ve travelled through dark forests, you’ve climbed huge mountains. But there you are. You finally reached your destination and you ought to be proud of yourself. The gates of heaven are about to be open for you. Once you’ve cross the threshold, you will experience a considerable change to your life. This will be your new kingdom. For your soul has reached a point where wisdom, happiness and joy can become your everyday achievement. So welcome to heaven. Keywords: achievement, completion, being close to heaven, blessing, reaching your destination. Affirmation: I feel proud of everything I have achieved so far. I feel complete and blessed. I feel grateful in advance for all the happiness life is about to bring me.”

Holy Gate, Number 40 was chosen at random as I read it to a client who rang to say she couldn’t make her appointment as she was admitted to hospital for cancer treatment! I thought the messages assumed a lot of personal and serious information that the Client and Reader might know more about.

Mystic Psyche Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Mystic Psyche Tarot By Emily Balivet. Quality Boxed set of 78 Cards and full colour Guidebook. Published by Rockpool Publishing. RRP US $29.95 : UK £23.99 September 2025 Visit: https://www.rockpoolpublishing.com/mystic-psyche-tarot

To illuminate the path of self discovery! Showing us the depths of human experience through traditional Tarot symbolism, mythic archetypes, personal alchemy, and modern paganism, this deck highlights illusions, negativity and weaknesses and aids in the discovery of truth, power and discernment. It is ideal for beginners and experienced readers. 

The guidebook explains how to use the cards, how to prepare them, hoe to set an intention, how to choose the cards for a reading and how to interpret them. A One-Card quick draw, a Past, Present, Future Spread of 3 cards, and a Celtic Cross Spread of 10 cards, are suggested. Each card has a descriptive artwork image, a number, a title and two keywords for upright and reversals. The symbolism is explained, and the meaning is given. Reversals are also explained. 

Shamanic Oracle

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Shamanic Oracle - Connect to the Medicine of the Earth. By Luis & Magali Tamani. Boxed set of 36 Cards and full colour Guidebook. Published  by Rockpool Publishing. RRP US $26.95 : UK £19.99  https://www.rockpoolpublishing.com/shamanic-oracle

French born female author Megali writes: We belong to a symphony of life - a greater unity. There is no absolute truth - but this shamanic oracle helps your alignment, your discernment, and connects you to your inner awareness and truth. You are the healer of your wounds, and the master of your life. 

Sample card reading: Prayer - I Spread Peace. Prayer connects our soul to the divine and creates a protective space where an intimate dialogue can be established between us and the infinite. This exchange reveals our authentic and most vulnerable truths. Through prayer, we ask and we receive. We speak and hear. In this deep connection, we can unload our burdens. This is time for contemplation. We close our eyes and are completely ourselves with benevolence and sincerity in mind. We slowly listen to the needs of our soul, we think of a loved one, or of humanity. We harmonise with the divine, and receive its love and wisdom. We create inner power with kind thoughts and connect to our authentic selves. We can ritualise this non materialistic moment with a little candle or burning incense or drinking a glass of water. We let our love emerge and stay focussed. The painting is a prayer for the Earth and each of its inhabitants. Imagine deep centred peace in our life and visualise it spreading everywhere. Affirmation: May all the Earth be at peace.

Tarot Medieval Review

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Tarot Medieval - The Mysteries of the Initiates Path by Caitlin Matthews with illustrations by Wil Kingham. Boxed set of cards and full colour book. Published by REDFeather (subsidiary of Schiffer Publishing) May 2023 UK £27.99 : US $29.99

A magnetic flip top box opens to display a comprehensive book and 78 cards. Size: 13.5 x 10.5 cm. Caitlin Matthews has translated, edited and provided additional material to revive an original, lost Tarot deck by Francis Rolt-Wheeler. The artwork is produced by Wil Kingham from originals by Christian Loring. 

A fascinating story begins with the highly praised Christian Loring who is a specialist in medieval art, and knowledgeable about Qabala. She meets with the esoteric teacher and L’Astrosophie magazine publisher, Francis Rolt-Wheeler to produce a Tarot deck but during WW2 it is becomes lost. 

Earth Magic

 Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Earth Magic - Ancient Shamanic Wisdom for Healing Yourself, Others and the Planet by Steven D Farmer, 265 pages published by Hay House. 

Our lives have become detached from nature and this book provides a way to relate once again to its beauty, meaning and importance. It helps us to appreciate, watch, value, learn from the seasons and cycles of life. Our 'sacred assignment' is to be a steward of this planet and to care for all species. The price of civilisation is one of consumerism, addictions, pollution, global warming and extinction of species. Ancient tribal spirituality honours the Earth. It has the capacity to heal through the rhythms of the drum, through dance and meditation, through ceremony, storytelling and ritual and through connecting to the Otherworld. The author develops contemporary shamanism around philosophies and practices, giving ancient knowledge a modern approach. We are provided with philosophy and exercises which enhance our understanding of the natural world and how we can work ecologically to heal our life. 

Shamanic Wisdom Keepers

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Shamanic Wisdom Keepers - Shamanism in the Modern World by Timothy Freke, published by Godsfield Press.

Each chapter features an interview with an authority on on a specific firm of traditional shamanism, such as Jamie Sams (Cherokee and Seneca), Malidoma Patrice Some (West African Dagara), Miguel A Kavlin (Amazonian), Haleakala Hew Len (Hawaiian), Lama Khemsar Rinpoche (Tibetan Yungdrung Bon), Andy Baggot (Celtic), Aiko Aiyana (Santo Daime), Martin Prechtel (Tzutujil Mayan), Ernesto Alvarado (Apache), and Lorraine Mafi-Williams (Australian Aboriginal), with poetry, prayer and colour plates.

A promotional coffee table book! Look at the photos and dip into the text. Many of the stories are similar but have many differences.