Witchful Thinking

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Witchful Thinking - The Wise Woman’s Handbook for Creating a Charmed Life, by Zoe Howe. Quality paperback, all text, no images, 278 pages Published by Llewellyn Books. US $18.99 UK £14

Zoe Howe is known as the ‘Rock’n Roll Witch of the Soho Radio station! This is a compilation of her family traditions and her collection of solitary witch advice. It incorporates folklore, discovery and play, and the old ways of the nature knower, and several major archetypes are provided. Important rules of the ethical witch are included, and examples are provided from other well known witches who give extra guidance. 

Spells, rituals and protections, and information on how to build an altar, cast a circle, work with moon and planetary energies, seasonal activities and personal empowerment, healing and divination methods, plants, chakras, and crystals, expressing your authenticity, and heaps more meat! It’s good value for money. For the solitary and developing witch, I am recommending Witchful Thinking! We all need a charmed life! 

Tarot and the Gates of Light

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Tarot and the Gates of Light - A Kabbalistic Path to Liberation by Mark Horn, paperback, 530 pages published by Destiny Books.

This is a workbook to assist the student to gain enlightenment through an ancient Kabbalistic cleansing ritual known as ‘Counting the Omer’. This practice traditionally began at Passover and continued for 49 days to Shavuot or what many know as Pentecost or Whit (white) Sunday. Tarot cards are used here - b/w drawings of the Rider Waite deck are provided within the text, in this newly designed method, which incorporates Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim texts and has therefore, an ecumenical base that does not exclude anyone of these religions, or none.

The Phoenix Cards

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Phoenix Cards  - Reading & Interpreting Past-Life Influences with the Phoenix Deck by Susan Sheppard. Presentation boxed set of 28 cards and instruction book. Published by Destiny Books. Card size: 14cm x 6cm. 

This divination deck is different to the usual oracle deck. Each card represents a different specialised symbol (letter). Cards are placed together to create a past life reading. The book explains how to use the cards, and there is an introduction to the topic of past lives with a creative meditation to open up the way to understanding past lives. In addition to the number and image on each card, there is a short keyphrase of 6 words and 8 categories with explanations of the Symbol, Place, Time, Groups, Language Groups, Appearance, Traits and Conclusions of each card.