A Lantern in the Dark

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: A Lantern in the Dark - Navigate Life’s Crossroads with Story, Ritual & Sacred Astrology, by Danielle Blackwood, in kindle and paperback 234 pages of text, no images, £14 Published by Llewellyn Books. 

“With unflinching wisdom and compassion, Blackwood guides us towards the holy grail of a meaningful, examined life.” Steven Forrest, author of The Inner Sky

What happens when we find ourselves at a crossroads in life? This crossroads is a threshold, and you can use astrology to assist your understanding and progress. Myths and folklore can also provide guidance. This book helps you and others to make peace with the past, navigate now and move on to your life purpose. This book will also help you to transform your crossroads into something sacred. The author is an astrologer and educator of 30 years duration. She provides meditations, stories, affirmations, and rituals. Every major astrological transit is covered, Saturn returns, Uranus opposition, etc. There are self-care tools, journalling, crystals and herbs, all for beginners. Beware of the self-fulfilling prophecy. 

Sun Signs, Houses & Healing

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Sun Signs, Houses & Healing - Build Resilience & Transform Your Life through Astrology by Carmen Turner-Schott, Published by Llewellyn Books in paperback US $16.99 : CAN $23.99 : U.K. £13.99 

The author is an astrologer, a practicing clinical social worker and psychotherapist. She works in the speciality of sexual assault prevention and with victims of trauma. 

This book is principally for beginners. There are three main lessons that are focused on: Building resilience, finding healing and transforming life and well-being.  How to use your birth chart, the Zodiac signs, the planets, the houses are all explained. 

The Visual I Ching

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Visual I Ching - A New Approach to the Ancient Chinese Oracle, Boxed set of Cards and guidebook by Oliver Perrottet, published by Brockhampton Press

In the distant past, the sages of China designed a system to enable understanding that life, so full of challenges and changes, is an interaction of two opposition forces, described as Yin and Yang. These are shown as a circle , half light and half dark, with a dot of light within the dark and a dot of dark within the light. These are portrayed not only as opposing and interacting energies, but the mutual attraction between them. In writing, these are shown as a broken line for Yang and an unbroken line for Yin. A series of 6 lines is called a ‘hexagram’. 

Breaking Chains

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Breaking Chains - The Evolution of the Black Madonna by Nic Phillips published by Avalonia Books. Paperback: US $24.99 U.K. £14.99 Kindle: £5.99

More information here on this hyperlink:  https://www.avaloniabooks.com/product-page/breaking-chains and https://fb.watch/9e5gqgtqHx/

 The Black Madonna had a mysterious relevance after appearing some thousand years ago. Many have studied her and written books about her myths and miracles. This is the first I have come across that offers an exclusive explanation of her cultural background and associations. It’s an interesting personal understanding by Nic Phillips, who explains their history and their connection with ancient goddesses including mother, dark and pagan goddesses, such as Kali, Vodou Lwa Ezili Danto, Orishas, and others. He covers specifically Our Lady of the Pillar, Częstochowa, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, and also others that are less well known from across the world.