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! 

The Witches' Almanac

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: The Witches' Almanac

A wonderful example of a Book of Shadows for the budding witch, pagan or occultist with recipes, tree lore, moon phases, charms, spells, secrets, reviews, diary events, quotes, places of interest, music, poetry, gods and goddesses, astrology, garden planting, incantations, reminiscences and personal learning. Sketches, photos, drawings, etc.

Delightful and useful spiritual journaling!
Review: Wendy Stokes https://wendystokes.co.uk

Moonology Diary 2024

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Review: Moonology Diary 2024 by Yasmin Boland, published by Hay House. 

Be reminded and learn more about the moon and yourself as you discover the lunar cycle, the rhythms, and phases, and use these energies to produce joy, meaning and purpose in your life. The words of the diary will guide you with New and Full Moon influences, and with positivity, to plan your months throughout the year. It’s a beautiful addition to your daily life. 

Also by the author Yasmin Boland:

Moonology Oracle Cards

The Rose Oracle

Keeper of the Light Oracle Cards

Universal Celtic Tarot Review

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Universal Celtic Tarot published by Lo Scarabeo by Cristina Scagliotti

We have a deck that focusses on the time of the ancient Celts who lived in the areas of Ireland, Scotland, France, Northern Spain, and Turkey. They were creative, artistic, courageous, freedom loving, strong, and spiritual people, who were wonderfully imaginative storytellers, who loved nature, and whose world was filled with wonders. They had regular seasonal festivals, and celebrated the beginning of the year at Lughnassah, and the spring festival on May Eve. 

The deck describes their value system, the ogham letters, little people, and plant spirits, their myths and legends. We see the cauldron of the Dagda in the Ace of Cups, the flower maiden, Blodenwedd, and Ceridwen in the Wheel of Fortune. 

It’s a beautiful Tarot deck! 

Sacred Earth Oracle

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Sacred Earth Oracle by Toni Carmine Salerno and Leela J Williams with artwork by Helena Nelson-Reed, published by Blue Angel Publishing. Boxed set of 45 cards and guidebook. £18.25 Visit: http://www.blueangelonline.com/oracle_cards.html

The cards put us in touch with the sanctity, wisdom and beauty of our sacred planet, Earth. They are designed to provide guidance, awareness, insight and support for the seeker. There is a creation story and information on how to use the cards. There is also advice that if someone is in imminent danger, other specific assistance should be directly sought. Each card carries an image and title. The guidebook provides additional Earthly Meanings, Spiritual Meanings and an Insights for each card.

 I  love the artwork! Recommended! 

Shining Tribe Tarot Review

Mind Body and Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: 

Shining Tribe Tarot (previously Shining Woman Tarot) by the late Rachel Pollack is a wonderful tarot deck of 78 illustrated cards, inspired by international myths and stories, shamanic journeys, esoteric traditions, tribal art and other creative enjoyments. There are standard tarot, Native American, Kabbalistic, prehistoric rock art, fairy tales and other influences. There are scenes from Greece, North America, Malta, Ireland, England, France, Denmark and the Netherlands. 

The original title of 'Shining Woman Tarot', refers to the last card of the major arcana, usually titled 'The World'. The image is a celebration of life and appears in several images throughout the card deck, such as, 'The Tower', '3 of Stones' and 'Awakening'. Images of animals occur, such as the turtle (tortoise), toad, snake and fish. Some of the traditional tarot titles have been changed, such as 'Tradition' and 'The Hanged Woman'. There is the ‘soul's journey’ through the major arcana from birth to enlightenment. The four suits are descriptive of human experience in all its varied forms. Wands (fire) are trees: Cups (water) are rivers: Swords (air) are birds: Pentacles (earth) are stones. Each card is given a poem and a write up in the accompanying book. 

The Rose Oracle

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Rose Oracle by Rebecca Campbell, set of 44 cards and Guidebook. Published by Hay House US $26.99 : Can $35.99 : UK £22.99 (March 2022) 

“Unlock the mysteries of the rose, connect to the divine feminine, nature, beauty. May Her healing mysteries call you home to your true nature.”

The rose is an ancient symbol of love and perfection. It is known as the Queen of flowers. The cards call us to meet the Mother Rose, connect to the goddess, to beauty, and to nature. Its perfume, soft velvet petals and beauty have provided great joy across the generations and across many countries of the world. The cards help us to reconnect with the garden, the Earth, the divine feminine, with seasons and cycles. 

Mayan Oracle Review

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Review:  The Mayan Oracle - A Galactic Language of Light – A Hands-on Tool to Harness the Potential for Spiritual Growth By Ariel Spilsbury and Michael Bryner Illustrated by Oceanna Published by Bear & Co Boxed set of 294 page book and 44 cards £27.99 

Ethereal Visions Tarot Luna Edition

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Ethereal Visions Tarot Luna Edition by Matt Hughes. Boxed set of 80 cards and Guidebook. Published by U S Games Systems Inc. £25.83 Release date: April 2023

Sample card: XI Justice. Astrological correlation Libra. Justice will make itself known when you see situations from all angles. Justice takes things slowly and deliberately and makes a just decision. All actions have consequences. Therefore, Justice knows that fairness is a priority, and understands that there will always be somebody who feels hurt if you don’t do things their way. When this card appears in a reading, you must take a stand and do what’s right for you. Upright meaning: equality, balance, decisions, fairness. Reversed meaning: dispute, dishonesty, lack of accountability, corruption.

The Triple Goddess Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Triple Goddess Tarot - Using the Power of the Major Arcana, Chakra Healing, and the Divine Feminine by Isha Lerner, illustrated by Mara Friedman, set of 33 individually illustrated cards and explanatory book in a sturdy drawer pull box. Published by Bear & Co. £30 

'Live each day as though you are a goddess'

The 33 cards carry an individual illustration, a number and a title. The Alchemy cards have blue backs and blue framed images and represent the mystery and wisdom of the Divine Feminine. The deck contains  a set of 7 'chakra' cards with green backs, illustrated in the chakra colours, which can be read alongside the Alchemy cards or alone. These have no numbers or titles. The almond shape of the vesica piscis  - an ancient symbol of femininity and birth - runs throughout all 33 cards illustrations.

The Ring Cycle Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Ring Cycle Tarot - Based on Richard Wagner’s The Ring Nibelung, created by Allegra Printz with illustration adaptions by Arthur Rackham. Set of 78 cards and guidebook in quality presentation box. Published by Schiffer Publishing, U.K. £40.99 : US $45 

Richard Wagner’s musical drama features the old Norse and Germanic pantheon and the story of a deadly and cursed golden ring of unlimited power. Characters and plot are taken from source material, and are adapted for this intriguing deck, which retains much of the drama, excitement and interest of the original storyline and is combined with the extraordinary and magical artwork of Arthur Rackham. 

The cards carry an image,  umber and a title and a subtitle from the story. There is information on each card’s background, and a divinatory meaning with reversed card meanings. The Divinatory meanings in the book are concise! I would say excellent. There is a lot of information to take in about the storyline, and if I had to make a criticism, it would be with the fonts that are difficult to read. 

The deck is dedicated to Ludwig J J of Bavaria…  “The so-called “mad” King, whose patronage financed Wagner‘s completion and initial production of the monumental Ring of the Nibelung.  In supporting art over war, Ludwig II left us a profound and enduring legacy of music and myth.”

The Quest for Mary Magdalene

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: The Quest for Mary Magdalene - History. & Legend by Michael Haag

Extract:  “A woman who needed to earn an income could extend her domestic activities into the marketplace where she could sell clothing, farm produce and bread (the bakers were men)or she could be an innkeeper, letting out rooms in her house. Hairdressers, midwives, and professional mourners were traditional occupations for women. But a woman’s earnings were for the benefit of her family. She was not free to dispose of her money herself.

Card Reading for October

For the month of October. 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. 

Chicken Soup

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: 'Chicken Soup for the Soul - Stories that restore your faith in human nature' By Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen published by Vermillion in the  Books That Change Lives Series, this is one of the Chicken Soup series, a 300 pages paperback, 8 million copies sold from the self-help and inspirational category.

Nimue Brown

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Druidry and Meditation By Nimue Brown Paperback £11.99 172 pages

Nimue Brown is a Druid celebrant, a Pagan Federation volunteer and has completed her OBOD (Order of the Bards, Ovates and Druids) training. She has been involved with the Druid Network and is a founder member of the West Midlands’ Druid Gorsedd, Bards of the Lost Forest, has run a closed ritual group, a folk club and is an experienced workshop facilitator and meditation teacher. She facilitates meditation groups within the UK Druidry community and has written this insightful and stimulating book on the use of Western style meditation for group and individual Druid practise. She includes passive and active exercises to deepen experience and awareness, and provides philosophy to aid personal and spiritual development and an understanding of the sacred.

Hush Tarot

Mind, Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Hush Tarot by Jeremy Hush, published by US Games Systems Inc. £20 Boxed set of 78 cards and guidebook. Card size: 5” x 3.5”. 

Image: 4 of Wands: Celebration of accomplishment. A time of celebrating and remembering all those who have helped along the way. It has not been always smooth, but you handled the thorns and now reap the beauty.

I like this deck and its connection between animal and human life, portrayed by the pen and ink artworks of Jeremy Hush from Philadelphia where he is the curator of Convent Gallery where he has his studio. The only spread offered is a four-card ‘Self Binding Influence’ layout. In the booklet, both upright and reversed meanings are provided. The Majors have keywords, and 50 words of upright and 50 words of reversed meanings, the Minors have 30 words of each. I think that a beginner might struggle a little,  but an experienced reader will find the artworks have intrinsic meaning and are inspirational. 

Writing a Life Story - Sara-Beth Watkins

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Telling Life’s Tales – A Guide to Writing Life Stories for Print and Publication by Sara-Beth Watkins Published by Compass Books 134 pages paperback £9.99 

So many ordinary people want to write a memoir, an autobiography or life story but do not know where to start. The market is competitive so you must be well informed in order to give yourself a very good chance of writing a really readable, enjoyable and interesting book.  This primer provides the best start for a total beginner. The author is a tutor at the Open College and teaches creative writing. She has 20 years’ experience as a freelance writer, has written three fantasy e-books and two other books for

The Dead Sea Scrolls Deception

Mind Body Soul Magazine Book Review - The Dead Sea Scrolls Deception by Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh, Now available as a free download.

800 ancient Hebrew and Aramaic scrolls were hidden for 19 centuries and discovered in the 1940s. This led to a complex set of relationships and dynamics in the academic research and translation of the text. Absorbing and finely detailed examination of the uncovering of the information that they contained, the Roman Catholic Church appeared to be trying to stall publication incase they challenged the account of the earliest origins of the Christian message. The Scrolls are thought to reveal who Jesus was and the actions of Paul in the early years after his death to take a story to the Gentiles despite concerns from the early church in Jerusalem, led by James. The book explains about the Acts of the Apostles and the damage Paul - a Roman spy - caused to the message of Jesus. Michael Baigent a photographer with excellent equipment fails to take photos yet again of important documents described within the text. Using Robert Eisenman’s independent authority, the Scrolls are suggested as the work of Jewish Zealots. Defenders of Masada and the Qumran community are also included within the story. Was Jesus an Essenes, a Zealot, a Nazorene, or belong to a movement to overthrow the Roman rulers? Was Jesus the unique individual the Roman Church describes him as, or was he part of an established set of religious beliefs?

Communal Meditation

Building community is about more than just interacting with a few, like-minded people. Real communities span age groups, and have diversity as well as areas of commonality that enable connections. Shared meditation can be used to provide some common ground and bring otherwise disparate people together.

Coming together to share a specific interest creates a good foundation for a community. Performing a communal activity can build bridges because issues of wealth, class, race and also religion become secondary to the work in hand. So much of our life does not encourage us to mingle with people outside our normal sphere and so our communities readily reflect too much of what we already know and think rather than opening new doors.

Universal Goddess Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Universal Goddess Tarot by Maria Caratti, Antonella Platano, published by Lo Scarabeo. 5 inches by 3 inches card size. £22.95 

This card is 'Angerona' Goddess of the Winter Solstice and represents 'silence' - the mother who never asks questions but welcomes you into her benevolent arms when you are tired or uncertain. This is a delightful deck, the paintings are of highest quality and are convincing as deities. The information in the insert is adequate and concise. There is a paperback by Antonela Platano to accompany the deck and a deluxe edition. This is a deck which will deliver a valuable reading every time, without fail! 

This card on the right is the card of Justice, here numbered VIII. She is the Egyptian Goddess of Truth and Justice and she speaks to us directly. Do you hear her voice say with great power and authority: "Bow down before me, for I am Ma'at, the Goddess of Truth, Justice and Order. Obey my commands and you will be rewarded by the same coin, or disobey me, and be condemned by the 42 judges. 

The Kingdom Within Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card deck Review: The Kingdom Within Tarot by Juno Lucina and illustrations by Shannon ThornFeather Presentation box set of 78 Cards and Guidebook Published by Schiffer RRP £31.99

‘For behold, the kingdom of heaven is within you.’

The Major Arcana has traditional Tarot titles. King, Queen, Knight and Page of suits, Pentacles, Wands, Cups and Swords. Suggested spreads are: The Triangle and The Cross. Information on questioning the cards, with additional information about apportioning time. Reversed card information is provided, along with archetypes, seasons and celebrations, and Myers-Briggs personality comparisons. 

Each Major card has the usual number and title, with its astrological significance, meaning and keyword, the Element, its Kabbalistic path, and its Hebrew letter and translation. Added to this is an explanation of the artwork, the upright and reversed divinatory meaning, and ten key phrases. 

What is Steampunk?

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Victorian Steampunk Tarot – Unravel the Mysteries of the Past, Present and Future, by Liz Dean and illustrated by Bev Speight. Published by Cico Books. The magnetised flip lip box includes a full deck of 78 tarot cards and a full colour explanatory booklet of each card.
The deck is very loosely based on the Rider-Waite deck but each card carries an individual computer graphic artwork to express the spirit of Victorian steampunk, the age of steam with modern counter culture anything is possible, plasma screens, hot air balloons, the era of Jules Verne, Mary Shelley, Edgar with, for instance, clockwork hearts and butterflies, deconstructed burlesque and brass spyglasses. The cards can be interpreted either upright or upturned thought the backs are intended for exclusively upright use. 

 

Sacred Geometry - Francine Hart

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Sacred Geometry Cards For the Visionary Path By Francene Hart 64 colour cards and 146 page b/w book Published by Bear & Co Price: £33
Author's website: http://www.francenehart.com/

This deck can be used with the Sacred Geometry Oracle Deck by Francine Hart or alone. Each card bears an original water-colour painting by this visionary artist who specialises in geometry and mandalas and lives in Hawaii where a place of quiet retreat inspired the design on the reverse of the cards (an artwork entitled 'Sunset Activation'). The card images were inspired by Spirit, geometric, science and celestial patterns, shape and form, wave and vibration, crop circles and chakras. Many bear fairly abstract images of creatures of sea, land and sky, including the human form. The cards can be read in upright and upturned mode and the reading upturned is an amplification of the stated upright value. The intention of the cards is for guidance, balance and encouragement. 6 spreads are offered, including a 3 card titled 'Synergy', a 4 card titled 'Earth

Sacred Traveler Oracle Review

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Sacred Traveler Oracle Cards by Denise Linn. Published by Hay House. Boxed set of 52 cards plus guidebook.

These cards show possibilities and potentials for the future. Life is a sacred quest - or a pilgrimage - towards our own self development and authenticity, where we seek clarity and learn wisdom and understanding. Oracle cards can be pointers towards this journey of enlightenment and can help us find our life purpose. The Sacred Traveler cards are designed to answer questions we might have and can be used for self readings or readings for another person. Each card has a meaning and a Sacred Traveler Message. There is also a section in the book to discover the hidden meanings in your nightly dreams and the cards can be used for meditation. The guidebook provides information on how to store, recharge, prepare, choose, layout and interpret the cards. There is a One Card Reading, a Daily Insight, a Monthly Layout, a One Year Spread, a 3 card reading, and a 5 card spread.

Jocelyn Chaplin

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Deep Equality - Living in the flow of natural rhythms By Jocelyn Chaplin  Paperback: £9.99 Author's blog: http://jocelynchaplin.wordpress.com

Feminist philosopher and psychotherapist, Jocelyn Chaplin, is a popular speaker and teacher and is the author of Love in an age of Uncertainly and Feminist Counselling in Action. In this latest book, she describes how we can only achieve fairness and justice in society by aiming for rhythmic rather than hierarchical behaviour.

Our earliest and most ancient memories are related to the rhythms of the planet, the flow of the tides, the patterns of the movements of the sun and moon and of our own heartbeat and other bodily rhythms. By increasing our awareness of these natural pulses we can improve our wellbeing. If we can flow in harmony with our energy levels and circumstances, we can be happier and healthier and experience more gentle and enjoyable relationships which offer true understanding and kindness.

Mystical Kipper

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Mystical Kipper is a very elegant deck of 36 fortune telling cards, created by Regula Elizabeth Fiechter and the artist, Urban Trosch, and published by the card deck specialist, AGM Urania.

Sample: Tree is numbered 17 and is titled 'Receiving a Gift'. It shows a Christmas tree with fairy lights. Gifts are laid out around its base, we guess who purchased these, and who they are for and what might be inside the wrapping paper. Will this be a happy Xmas event. Someone has gone to much trouble to create a perfect setting. It is a card which draws us to the creation of  homely happiness and sharing a time of celebration with others.    

The Mystical Kipper cards, however, do not depict all sweetness and light! Some cards highlight the more difficult aspects of life which are ever present for the unsuspecting. There are false persons, unhappiness, prison, bereavement, and other dangers. All 36 cards can be laid in an 'All Cards' spread, nine cards in four rows and the cards are read horizontally, diagonally and vertically. 

 This is a delightful deck, as is it's companion, the Mystical Lenormand, by the same creators, Fiechter and Trosch. I like to use the Mystical Kipper cards alongside the Lenormand Cards to create a 72 card combined deck. There is sufficient information in the little white booklet in the deck packs to get the beginner started.