The Medicine Woman Oracle

Mind Body & Soul Card Deck Review: The Medicine Woman Oracle - by Catherine Maillard, artwork by Caroline Maniere. Boxed set of 49 cards and Guidebook. Published by Rockpool Publishing. £18.99 (10th Nov 2022) card size: 9cm x 13cm 

Can you hear her song? Mother Earth is calling you! 

Archetypes of 13 moons, ancestors, seasons, totems and endangered animals offer to awaken us with many aspects of the sacred life of women, as an encouragement - and a reminder - of the strengths, healing, empowerment and wisdom of our sisterhood. The deck is divided into 13 brown archetypal medicine cards, with advice, a message, guidance, and a ritual, and 12 pink gifts cards also with advice, a message, guidance, and a meditation, 12 green totem/allied spirit cards with a channelled message, symbolism, guidance, animal contact and a ritual, and 12 red wisdom action cards. 

Circles of Meaning - Labyrinths of Fear

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: CIRCLES OF MEANING – LABYRINTHS OF FEAR The Twenty Two Relationships of a Spiritual Life and Culture – And Why They Need Protection by the late Brendan Myers, Published by Moon Books Available as eBook and Paperback, 483 pages Author Website: http://www.brendanmyers.net/

Dr Brendan Myers is a philosopher, environmentalist and a teacher of ethics and spirituality. He has a special interest in Celtic mythology and folk-lore and is involved in Druidry. He has written several books, is a columnist for various pagan publications and has made many broadcasts on radio.

Black Moon Astrology Cards Review

Mind Body Soul Card Deck Review: Black Moon Astrology Cards by Susan Sheppard. A boxed set of 52 cards plus guidebook. Published by Blue Angel Publishing. £17.99

The cards are divided into 3 sections, planets, constellations, houses, elements and additional astrology aspects. Each card carries an image, number, title and subtitle. The guidebook provides information on how to use the cards which provide an easy method to get involved with astrology. No previous knowledge is required. Key words and a quotation are provided for each card with both a brief and extensive explanation. The cards correspond to the tarot. Several spreads are suggested: 15 cards, Here, Now, Later; 12 cards, Astrology Wheel; 5 cards, Black Moon; 4 card, Planetary; 4 card, Course of Action, 7 card, Black Moon Romance.

Moon Magic

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Moon Magic - Harness the Gift of Lunar Energy by Marie Bruce. Full colour hardback published by Arcturus Publishing Ltd. RRP £9.99

A delightful book that would make a nice gift for a friend newly interested in Wicca and ritual. Includes information on the lunar cycle, symbols, myths and stories, moon deities, totem animals, the moon in the astrology chart, how to create a lunar altar and scrying by the moon, keeping a journal, a moon meditation, and how to incubate dreams and dream symbols, all with full colour images. 

Wicca Moon Tarot Review

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Wicca Moon Tarot Cards - Set of Guidebook and 74 Cards. card size: 19.5 x 12 cm 

Wicca Moon Tarot was created by Shirlee who is a celebrant for handfastings, naming ceremonies and funeral services is also the owner of the Wicca Moon shop at 50 Well Hall Road, London, SE9 6SH. This is a very personal deck with personalities known to Shirlee representing each of the Major Arcana and the Court cards which are, unusually, Page, Knight and a combo of Queen and King cards, making 52 of the Minor Arcana - so in all with 22 Major Arcana, there are 74 cards in the deck. The Queen and King cards are occasionally one person, with their Anima and Animus representing their female and male inner energies. It has sold in the region of 800 packs. Because the book is designed for experienced tarot readers, there is minimal information about the card meanings, spreads, etc., which can easily be looked up online.   

Tarot of A Moon Garden

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Tarot of A Moon Garden by Karen Marie Sweikhardt. Boxed set of 78 cards and full colour Guidebook and layout for Wheel of the Year Spread. Published by U S Games Systems Inc. $31.95

Marvellous! Purple gilt edging on these cards is a delight, and they have highly ornamental artwork! These are 78 borderless paintings - all the better to see the beauty of the flora and fauna, mythic creatures, angels and fairies, and natural settings. And, if the images alone don’t thoroughly excite you, the write ups on the cards definitely will. These are an unusual size, long and thin and easy to shuffle and deal. The written explanations are divided into Renderings, Readings and Ritual, providing 250 words for each card. The Appendix provides Garden Runes, Garden Recipes, and a recipe for Honey Mead. 

The Moon Oracle

Mind Body Soul Magazine Card Deck Review: The Moon Oracle - Let the Phases of the Moon Guide Your Life by Caroline Smith and the late John Astrop. Published by Eddison Books. £19.99 Card Size: 3.5" x 5"

Answer your life questions using the rhythms of the moon! 

A quality boxed set of 72 cards plus guidebook based on GMT with a time change chart for other international cities. The instruction book includes:

Moon Tables from 2016- 2032 with date, phase, sign and element

12 Moon Goddesses

28 Moon Mansions

4 x 8 Moon Phases in each of the elements

The instruction book also provides full information on how to perform a reading, what spreads to use with Q & A for a 5, a 7 and a 10 card reading. 

Each Moon Phases cards depict an image, a moon phase, a title, a number, an element and an energy. The book provides further information on the moon in one of three signs. Each goddess card provides a goddess image, a goddess name, a zodiac sign and a moon phase. 

Beowulf Oracle

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Beowulf Oracle  - Wisdom from the Northern Kingdoms by John Matthews and Virginia Chandler, illustrated by Joe Machine. Published by Schiffer Publishing. Drawer pull quality boxed set of 22 cards with instruction book. U.K. £29.99  US  $29.99

“Fate will often save a uncursed man, if his strength is constant.” 

Hwaet! Listen!  This is the first word of the Beowulf poem which tells a long tale of huge difficulties, dangers, interpersonal relationships, battles and treasures, and great acts of courage. 

Tarot Gothica

Mind Body & Soul Card Deck Review: Tarot Gothica by Janne Koivuniemi published by Schiffer Publishing. US  $24.99 : UK  £16.99

“Light to lighter - darker to darker!”

78 card deck and a guidebook are contained in this black and blue magnetic box. This Tarot is fashion conscious, modern and unusual. It’s the young goths party tarot reading deck - and ideal for Halloween! Unusually, the card backs are obviously showing which way they have been dealt. I would think no reversal readings, only upright. 

Falnama

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Falnama - Turkish Oracle Cards by Asli and Polat Canpolat. Boxed set of 40 cards and Guidebook Published by Schiffer Books. £22.00 

Falnamas are Islamic fortune telling oracles, written in poetry and made for the aristocracy, often by opening a book on historical, mythological or biblical themes, at a random page and finding wisdom within the text. These cards have 3 suits and each card falls into one of the suits, either a Woman (red), Man (blue) or Together (green). You can make a wish and choose a single card, choose a 3 card Man-Woman Opening, or a Sestet Opening of 6 cards. 

The Tarot Wheel

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Tarot Wheel - A Fast & Easy Reading System by Jim Edward Lucier. Published by Schiffer Publishing. RRP £22.99

This ”spin a wheel” Tarot reading system is based on the 78 cards of the Rider-Waite Tarot.  It provides a plastic wheel of 7 rings. Each ring has a title: 1 The Present, 2 The Past, 3 The Future, 4 Ambitions, 5 Spiritual Influences, 6 Strengths, 7 Outcome. Starting with the innermost ring and moving outwards, with eyes closed whilst thinking of your question, turn the transparent dial in either direction for your 7 card reading. Stop. A card will fall within the dial. There is a very simplified keyword crib for each of the 78 cards. 

Inner Realms Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Inner Realms Tarot by Saleire, Presentation Box set of 78 Cards and Guidebook Published by Schiffer RRP £40.99

“Let the spirit move you, the cards guide you, and your heart deliver the message.”

Solid flip to box with magnetic closure and quality cards, approx 100 words of meaning provided for each card. On the face of each card is the traditional Tarot title, a modern art image and several keywords to assist with readings. We are invited to trust our interpretations as guidance to help our Querent move forward, with our senses, feelings, thoughts and emotions, but not to use the cards for fortune telling. We are not to pass on negative energies and no reversal meanings are provided as uprights say all there is to say. There is an area in the booklet for first impressions to be written. Meditation is recommended. 

Tarot in the Land of Mystereum

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Tarot in the Land of Mystereum - An Imagination Primer by Jordan Hoggard. Presentation Boxed set of 78 cards and accompanying book. Published by Schiffer Publishing. US $34.99 : £31.99 Quality cards Size: 30cm x15cm with white border.. 

All similar- each unique! 

The Land of Mystereum Tarot is presented in a smart magnetic box with ribbon drawer and it contains intensely colourful cards in an Avant-garde / Surrealistic leaning genre. I found the card images are complex and enigmatic with a slight overwhelm. The accompanying book contains detailed, elaborate and innovative text for each card. We are told to take a good look at a card image, then say what we are feeling out loud. These strange cards speak from individual characters within the Tarot but not in the usual manner. There are sections of information for each card for explanation and creativity. I am pleased to have an informative book to accompany this non conformist, unconventional concept deck, designed to “take our imagination to new heights and depths”. 

The Dark Daughter Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Dark Daughter Tarot - Goddesses of the World Speak from the Depths. Author and Artist, Ellen Lorenzi-Prince. Boxed set of 78 Cards and full colour qua,ith Guide Book. Published by REDFeather Publishing. RRP US $34.99 : UK £30.00 2026

We have a unique and exclusive presentation box that shows a lady dressed in blue with her finger to her lip implying secrets are held within! She is the High Priestess of the deck. Her door opens to reveal the book’s cover image of a Minoan woman in a topless red dress who dances with a white Minotaur! This is the image of The Moon Card. What a stunning opening! 

The card stock is also excellent quality.  Let me tell you about the content of this extraordinary set. The darkness referred to relates to suppressed, difficult, hidden, deep, the unspoken, but not entirely negative energies! These are the divine feminine shape-shifters, landscape guardians, nature lovers, power-brokers, spell-workers, fair folk, all are expert teachers, some loving, and some scary. The Dark Daughter is child of the Ancestors, of these mysteries, and of these extraordinary female deities. 

Read Like A Queen

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review- Read Like A Queen - Real-Life Insights to SLAY Your Tarot Practice by Stella Boheme. Published by REDFeather. RRP: $19.99 

I Stella Boheme is a debut author but has been reading the cards since she was 14 yrs old in Ohio! Then a. Love to Florida to work in the theme park, you know, the one with the funny mouse on the posters! And who emerged from the Gemini wild child and all time entertainer, a Drama Queen and Drag Queen with wit and wisdom! So this is the tutorial, and she becomes our mentor! 

The introduction is a stream of consciousness, the Queen of Glam Tarot speaks from the page. Her motto is: Uplift and Empower! We are provided with plenty that will strengthen and add delight to readings. 

Majors have keywords, archetypes, characters, zodiac correspondences, Focus suggestions, and music additions. There is a full detailed meaning for each major, and a prompt for a glamorous journal. There is a glamorous meditation for each major also. I would say informative and lots to bring on a smile! 

Rota Mundi Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Rota Mundi Tarot  - The Rosicrucian Arcanum by Daniel E Loeb. Published by REDFeather/Schiffer Publishing. Presentation boxed set of 78 Cards and Guidebook. US: $34.99 and U.K.: £31.99 

Are you seeking a very special conceptual Tarot deck in order to deliver in depth, and extraordinary readings? This is it! 

This innovative deck honours the original Fraternity of the Rose Cross, subsequent Rosicrucians and invisible colleges. Alchemy, Gnosticism, hermeticism, Kabbalah, Judeo-Christian mysticism and other antique secret knowledge sources, known only to selected members of society are revealed.

Tree of Life Oracle

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Tree of Life Oracle by Elaine Clayton. Boxed set of 30 cards and Guidebook. Published by Schiffer Books RRP US $24.99 

This is a cute bright yellow deck - all things tree related. Each card shows an image and a title, and in the guidebook, there is a number, title and subtitle, and a few keywords. These are followed by text that explains the meaning in 300 words that applies to both the tree and to YOU or the one you are reading for. 

In conclusion: “Standing tall, shining and thriving is your birthright. Growing more towards the light with each breath you take, through each life situation, you become more deeply wise. Finding yourself well rooted, yet flexible, you experience the seasons of life as they come, we cannot control what happens to us, but we can control and choose our response to what life brings. This is empowerment itself, to respond to life with strength and fortitude, no matter what the season. Use the Tree of Life Oracle to centre yourself and be reminded of your natural inheritance, which is to explore the meaning of life, as you live the days of your life. Live and celebrate your potential to learn, to expand, and to reach out to possibility and greatness.” From the guidebook. 

Simply Deep Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Simply Deep Tarot by Chanel Bayless with artwork by James Battersby. Published by Schiffer Publishing. Boxed set of 78 Cards and Guidebook. RRP US $24.99 

Sample card: Ace of Cups - keywords: Gratitude, Refreshment, Compassion. Upright: Unconditional love is overflowing in your life. Let peace fill your heart. This is the beginning of an emotional journey in which you will be called upon to learn a higher form of love, evolving outside of physical intimacy. Reversed: Smothering isn’t good for either party, as it feels like forced affection. Love may be conditional, or this is a negatively energised relationship that outweighs any benefits.

Here we have a Tarot with vibrantly painted images by an Irish artist. The 78 cards come in a magnetic fliptop box with the guidebook. Detachment is suggested for readings without bias, prejudice or emotion. A preparation method is given for highly individual personal readings for yourself. No spreads are suggested, but shuffle the deck and ask your question, lay down one card as an answer. Look up the meaning provided in the guidebook. And look at the card - what do you see immediately? What personal meaning does it have for you? What does it remind you of? Write these answers down. An example of a one card reading is provided and there are a variety of exercises. I like the method presented in this Tarot. 

The Illuminati Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Illuminati Tarot - Keys of Secret Societies by Casey DuHamel and illustrated by Bob Greyvenstein Published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd, Presentation boxed set of 78 cards with full colour guidebook. U.K. : £36.99  US : $39.99

Provided along with the card image, number and title, the Majors have association with the Priory of Sion, all have a quote, an explanation of the card and its symbolism, the keywords and meaning in a reading, in addition to its archangel, astrology sign, Cabala path, element and Hebrew letter. Plenty of new material here for the general Tarot reader. 

The Court Cards are Novices (Pages - Earth), Initiates (Knights - Air) Adepts (Queens - Water), and Mages (Kings - Fire) all are given a quote, an explanation and keywords, and their individual Nature, Element, Tetragrammaton and Card Persona. All Pips have keywords. 

The Healing Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Healing Tarot - 78 Ways to Wellness, by Juno Lucina, illustrated by Monica Knighton. Presentation box containing 78 cards and guidebook. Published by Schiffer Publishing. RRP US $39.99 

This is an interesting study on what each Tarot card means here in terms of Astrology, Qabala, Archetypes, and the traditional RWS perspective. Health, diet, fitness, wellness, balance of body, mind and spirit are provided with upright and reversed meanings for self readings and readings for others. The guidebook contains detailed text for Majors and lessons text for Court Cards and Minors. Each card provides a pencil sketch, title, subtitle, additional title, number, quote, information on the meaning, astrology connections, traditional interpretations, and health advice for upright and reversed cards. 

Spreads suggested are Acute Illness 4 cards, Healthy Zodiac 12 cards, and Diet/Fitness 7 cards. 

The Tarot of Curious Creatures

Mind Body & Soul Card Deck Review: The Tarot of Curious Creatures by Chris-Anne. Published by Hay House. Boxed set of 79 cards and guidebook. UK £18.32 : US $26.99 : Can $35.99

Crazy, weird, eccentric, whimsical, all the wildest adjectives suit this tarot deck - and what a pack! 78 different characters all with a story, and a message of advice and encouragement. How do you feel about animal heads on human bodies, and wearing tasteful fashion? There is more than a hint of  power animals in this deck! These are photo realism people, computer graphics to make you laugh and have fun. You will find your Curious Creature Guide, meet them on Pathworkings, enjoy some new layouts, working with Major, Court Card and Minor 'interesting' messages. 

The creator, Chris-Anne is an experienced card deck designer. Her other card decks are: Lightseer’s Tarot, The Muse Tarot, and The Sacred Creator’s Oracle. 

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. 

Tarot of the Kingdoms

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Tarot of the Kingdoms by Paige Ozma Ashmore. Published by REDFeather, a subsidiary of Schiffer Books. £31.99 Boxed set of 80 cards with full colour guidebook.

• Solid card stock in an attractive box. All 80 cards are pretty pastel crayoned artworks. The deck’s creator, Paige Ozma Ashmore, is a mural artist and creates Soul Portraits. She worked on the film, Eleven, as a film artist.

Sample from the book: Ace of Fire - The Phoenix rises from the ashes of an old dream.  

Divinatory Meaning: A birth of something new. Sometimes a troubling birth, but it rises brilliantly. Direction to Take: An action on your part is required. Take that step. 

This deck is designed to dispel negativity, and to help you find your higher purpose. Majors, described as Archetypes, are rainbows. Air is pink, wands, east, and of the fairy kingdom. Fire is red, swords, south, kingdom of the phoenix. Water is blue, west, and kingdom of the merfolk. And Earth, green, north, pentacles, kingdom of the tree spirits. The fifth element is a card titled Spirit. Another addition is a card titled The Universe. Animals are well represented as are women, nature and multicultural influences. 

The Avalonian Oracle

THE AVALONIAN ORACLE - Spiritual Wisdom from the Holy Isle by Jhenah Telyndru and Illustrated by Emily Brunner. Boxed set containing cards and guidebook. ISBN: 978-0-7643-5058-0 Published by REDFeather Mind, Body, Spirit. Previously issued in 2010 as Avalon Within - A Sacred Journey of Myth, Mystery and Inner Wisdom 

Follow in the footsteps of the Priestesses of Avalon and the Goddesses of the Ancient Welsh pantheon. This is a deck for true seekers of mystery, shadow and light. All things Avalon have a very special place in my heart. I had a strong guide in Morgan Le Fay, and fell in love with Marion Zimmer Bradley’s book The Mists of Avalon. It was where I started my own "path" and remains at the heart of my spiritual life. So it truly is a divine privilege to review this deck.

The Gospel of Aradia

Mind Body & Spirit Ezine card deck review: The Gospel of Aradia by Stacey Demarco, artwork by Jimmy Manton. Boxed set with 36 cards and a 112 page guidebook. Published by Blue Angel Publishing £15.99

"The angels of one religion are the devils of another!"

Cards carry a title in Latin, an affirmation, a poem and a message. 

The story of Aradia is the story of the 'strega' the weaver of magic, mystery and enchantment, empowerment and creativity that can assist the self or others. 

Aradia was lost and wandering through the countryside, hungry and cold. An old woman finds her and invites her to share her meagre meal. The woman has an injured leg and Aradia prepares a poultice and shows the old lady how to make it and use it and she sings a song of healing. In the morning, Aradia is gone, but the woman finds her leg has healed. As she touches her shawl, three gold coins fall to the floor. She looks out the window and her old cow is young again and her old horse is strong again. Vegetables, herbs and berries have been planted in her garden.   

The Crystal Spirit Talking Board

Mind Body & Soul Review: The Crystal Spirit Talking Board - A Spiritual Power Tool for Light Workers by Amy Zerner and Monte Farber. Published by REDFeather Publishing. RRP US $34.99  UK £32.00

The box contains a fold up board (mat), a transparent acrylic indicator, and a guidebook with full instructions. Around the board 5 wheels of crystals, the moon, letters, words and numbers. Details are provided in the guidebook on how to use it. 

There are 15 master crystals, along with moon phases, numbers 0-9, 8 directions, letters, and words of power. These represent symbols with meaning and for, a grid of wisdom that provides answers within the guidebook. These stones are created through millions of years within Mother Earth, they hold great power to help us connect to our higher self. I visited my local gemstone shop to buy the required crystals, and these helped with readings, but the spirit board works well without real crystals.

Eco-Spirituality

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Eco-Spirituality in the 21st Century - ReVisioning Nature, Community, and Connection by Dana O’Driscoll & Nate Summers. Published by REDFeather Publishing. US $19.99 : UK £18.99 : Kindle £10.99    October 2025

This is a quality book with glinting printing on the cover, the reader will be impressed by this excellent material written by two specialists in the area of ecology and how it relates to spirituality. We o-ao-author can all learn a lot from this presentation. Dana 0’Driscoll is an Anamist Druid, currently serving as Grand ArchDruid in the Ancient Order of Druids in America. She authored the book ‘Sacred Actions’ and she is a Permaculture Practitioner. Her co-author, Nate Summers is an ancestral skills teacher and survival expert , and he authored the book, ‘Primal’ and ‘Shadow Survival’. 

Your Life in Colour

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book review: Your Life in Colour - Empowering Your Soul with the Energy of Colour by Dougall Fraser and published by Hay House, paperback £12.99 Author website: www.dougallfraser.com

Dougall Fraser is a Los Angeles life coach and workshop facilitator. He has an ability to see auras and has added interests in meditation, chakras and colour healing. Here he explains how to incorporate colour into our life and includes exercises, affirmations, meditations and suggestions on how to align ourself with colour energies. Colours can create positive and negative reactions so we need to find which colours work for us and he provides a simple course to work with a different colour each week. Dougall Fraser provides examples from his personal experiences and those of his clients. Each colour has a positive and a negative aspect and colour can help us to meet our goals, increase energy, influence and wellbeing. We can imagine a beautiful meditation such as imagining a ball of colour above our head which bursts into a shower of sparkles which rain down over us. He has a radio show on Hay House Radio and offers a blog on his website. White, gold, silver, blue, emerald green, purple, ruby red, orange, pink, mint green. 

Higher Reality Therapy

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Higher Reality Therapy - Nine Pathways to Inner Peace By Anthony Falikowski Visit: www.falikowski.com

The psychiatrist, William Glasser developed Reality Therapy in the US in the mid 1960s and it was especially successful for those who did not respond to more conventional methods of therapy. The approach, mainly based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) focuses on negotiated ways to create improvements in current behaviour. 'Higher' Reality Therapy is an eclectic approach to a similar goal of problem solving. Reality Therapy, as devised by William Glasser is criticised rather severely but taken as the basic premise and improved upon to create 'Higher' Reality Therapy.

Land Healing Book Review

Mind Body & Soul Book Review: Land Healing - Physical, Metaphysical, and Ritual Practices for Healing the Earth by Dana O’Driscoll. Published by REDFeather Publishing. RRP US $19.99  

This is a workbook for all lovers of the land. It is transformative - and when healing the land, we heal ourselves. For healers, who want to increase their healing activity and extend it to nature, this is ideal.  Whether you live in the countryside, town or city, this is an excellent book to increase awareness with deep listening and careful observing. 

For many years, spirituality has mean many things to many people; but spirituality is now being defined by working with nature, our enjoyment of it, and the ways in which we care for it. In this book, there is excellent food for thought, meditations, blessings, rituals, sigils, visualisations, knowledge of sacred timing, herbcraft, guardianship of holy space, creating sacred items, such as a fire ceremony, a Crane Bag, smoke and prayer bundles, seed balls, and a sacred grove. 

The Fool's New Journey Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Fool's New Journey Tarot - Sixty Triumphs for a New Dawn by John Matthews and Charles Newington. Boxed set of 60 cards and full colour Guidebook. Published by REDFeather Publishing (Schiffer Books) RRP US $34.99 

Consider your origin: you were not born to live like brutes, but to follow virtue and knowledge. Dante. 

Magnetic and drawer pull box reveals a new Tarot journey using 60 cards to portray the human condition (though my drawer could not be pulled and I realised the sleeve needed to be removed so the box would open!) The cards backs are The Fool in the midst of his journey, surrounded by clouds, moving full circle, half a mirror image not to show which way up the cards have been dealt. There are some exceptional spreads, a Two-Card, a Three-Card, and a Five-Card. 

The Zerner/Farber Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Zerner/Farber Tarot by Amy Zerner & Monte Farber. Quality presentation box containing full colour guidebook and 78 cards. Published by REDFeather Publishing. £29.99 release date: April 2023

These cards have extraordinary fabric and collage images, created by Amy Zerner, an award winning artist. Her husband and co-creator has supplied the text, which I can recommend as insightful and wise in helping to get the best from a reading. Together they have produced other excellent tarot publications: Enchanted Tarot, Instant Tarot, Enchanted Love Tarot, Creativity Oracle and the Enchanted Worlds Book. 

Traditional Witchcraft for Urban Living

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Traditional Witchcraft for Urban Living, by Melusine Draco, Paperback £9.99 E-book £6.99, Published by Moon Books

Melusine Draco’s many books on the occult have a well-deserved reputation for being informative, interesting and useful. This book is ideal for the solitary practitioner living in a town or city (the author provides differences between ‘witchcraft’ per se and ‘wicca’ per se). It is possible to know about herbal lore, to honour nature and to practice magical arts anywhere in the world. She accepts that criticism of witchcraft is still very common in the twenty-first century and suggests it is necessary to be discreet, yet confident. The book contains excellent advice and many good exercises. It also gives an understanding of the problems that present themselves to those living in a built-up area. 

Celtic Book of the Dead

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Celtic Book of the Dead - An Oracle to Steer Your Life Journey by Caitlin Matthews and Danuta Mayer. Published by REDFeather, an imprint of Schiffer Books RRP £27.99 (release date: 28/1/2023)

“The three candles, that illuminate every darkness, are truth, nature and knowledge.”

 We are given a direction by the author, “May your immram make you glad in your soul, and may its blessing ripple through the world.”  If I had a criticism, it would be that the Lenormand size cards are somber in colouring, and computer graphics rather personal artworks, so I was a bit disappointed. There is a folded card insert in the box for a card spread - I would have preferred a larger sized, and more colourful deck of cards. 

The Healing Power of Trees

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: The Healing Power of Trees - Spiritual Journeys Through the  Celtic Tree Calendar by Sharlyn Hidalgo. Published by Llewellyn Worldwide. RRP US $17.95 : Can $20.95 

We are in a time of recognising the importance of trees in our world. So many entire forests and species are under threat. This book is a joy to read and there is much here to learn from. Tree lore is an ancient wisdom and the author writes about her own personal story, then invites us to walk with her in this enriching journey using the seasonal calendar to cultivate a relationship with trees. The Major Celtic trees are detailed, we are given guided meditations, astrology and runes information, 23 ogham letters, and tree honouring ceremonies. You will develop greater understanding of many common trees and how you can work with them to build a personal relationship with them.

The Seven Types of Spirit Guide

Mind, Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: The Seven Types of Spirit Guide - How to Connect and Communicate with Your Cosmic Helpers by Yamile Yemoonyah. Published by Hay House. £12.99 

There are full explanations on what a spirit guide is, how to recognise the various types, to see what is wrong and make changes, set high standards, find out what specialist spirits can teach you. There are 7 types explained in this book, i.e., deities, ancestors, ascended masters, nature spirits, animal guides, star beings, and angels. Other explanations are of god, how to align with your higher self, how to avoid egotism, how to serve, to live your life purpose, what are the dangers, are there evil and random spirits, what is cultural appropriation, and what is spiritual bypassing, etcetera. All important points!

Magdalene's Lost Legacy

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Magdalene's Lost Legacy - Symbolic Numbers and the Sacred Union in Christianity by Margaret Starbird, Published by Bear & Co, paperback and kindle. 

Patriarchy has failed us for millennia! The author, Margaret Starbird has written 7 books on the topic of Mary Magdalene’s role in the life of Jesus and has studied original Greek manuscripts to decode embedded gematria (numbers) within the New Testament texts. She has uncovered hidden aspects of the divine feminine, and the sacred partnership between Jesus and his bride, that was the earliest of Christian spiritual relationships. This secret wisdom was corrupted by St Paul and other misogynistic Church fathers. This sacred marriage of the Lamb and the Bride unites the divine aspects of the male and female, known as the 'heiros gamos'.  Margaret Starbird challenges the celibacy of Jesus replacing it with a union with Mary Magdalene that restores the female to its rightful place as bride, beloved and sacred partner, and provides a true understanding of love and commitment. 

Secrets of Mary Magdalene

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Secrets of Mary Magdalene -A Guide to Her Story, History and Heresy by Dan Burstein and Arne de Keijzer. 

The life of Mary Magdalene is examined by the experts, with contributions from Elaine Pagels, Margaret Starbird, Merlin Stone and a host of other writers and researchers throughout all time. Each provides from their perspective who this enigmatic woman was, what do we know about her from the canonical gospels and the many other traditions that describe her as a provider, lover, outcast, harlot, wife, teacher, priestess, healer, apostle to the apostles, and in poetry, painting, fact and fiction. This book has it all! 

It is my favourite book about the Magdalene. It''s brilliant! Easy to read, with broad, fascinating, often new and exciting content. Recommended. 

The Chalice of the Magdalene

Mind Body Soul Ezine Book Reviews: The Chalice of the Magdalene - The Search for the Cup that Held the Blood of Christ by Graham Phillips, Paperback and Kindle formats, Published by Bear and Co.

Was the Holy Grail a cup used at the Last Supper by Jesus and his disciples? Was it able to perform miracles? Did Mary Magdalene collect the blood of Jesus in this cup when he appeared to her following his death on the cross? Was there a relic known as the Marian Chalice taken to Rome by Constantine's mother, Helen? Was a cup smuggled from Rome in 410 AD according to Olympiodorus? Was it brought to Britain for safe keeping? This book focuses on the journey of this grail. It identifies Arthur and the place where the Holy Grail is now. 

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.

The Sacred Feminine Anthology

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Voices of the Sacred Feminine – Conversations to Re-Shape Our World, Edited by Rev Dr Karen Tate, Published by Changemakers Books. paperback £10.38 400 pages 

This is an anthology of specially chosen articles from keynote speakers, authors and activists who are supportive of the Divine Feminine, each article is between 400 – 1,000 words in length and a short autobiography of the contributor follows each article. All articles cover some aspect of the goddess and are derived from many cultures, for instance, sacred activism, social change, planetary welfare, healing, empowerment and mutual support, in addition to challenges to major patriarchal religions. Worship of the Divine Feminine fills many a gap in general religious thoughts and fails to promote women to positions of power and influence or to recognise the importance of the many benefits that are offered from honouring matriarchal spirituality. Amongst the articles are several interviews which have been aired on the radio broadcast by the presenter Karen Tate. Several of the articles are written from a US perspective but where-ever one is in the world, one can gain something from each and every contribution provided. I have not provided each of the article titles but just idea/s that caught my eye which I thought worthy to mention.  

The Bloodline of the Holy Grail

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: The Bloodline of the Holy Grail - The Hidden Lineage of Jesus Revealed by Laurence Gardner. 

Kicking off, by page 4, the author is drawing attention to how far our society has degraded from the Grail ideology. The author promises to set out the Grail Code - which is one of service - of conscience, and therefore the grail transmits a true religious message across the world and across the generations. All credit to the late Laurence Gardner for recognising and teaching this ancient and vital knowledge. 

The late Laurence Gardner (died 2010) was a controversial character, a writer, researcher and one time stockbroker. He believed that the Ark of the Covenant produced monoatomic gold, a white powder that has superhuman healing properties; that aliens from other planets brought us religion; that the origins of Judaism lie in Egyptology; and that Jesus married Mary Magdalene, had children and their offspring are in the House of Stewart. He worked closely with HRH Prince Michael of Albany, Head of the Royal House of Stewart, aka Michael Roger Lafosse who has been entirely discredited. 

Secrets of Mary Magdalene

Mind Body Soul Ezine Book Review: Secrets of Mary Magdalene - A Guide to Her Story, History and Heresy anthology edited by Dan Bernstein & Arne de Keijzer, published by Orion Books, kindle and paperback, 480 pages £6.99 With colour plates.  www.secretsofmarymagdalene.com.

“The Untold Story of a History’s Most Misunderstood Woman!’ Well, certainly there is nothing in the New Testament to suggest that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute, so how did this malign story develop, and who was the real Mary Magdalene and what do we know about her?

The Magdalene Legacy

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: The Magdalene Legacy - The Jesus and Mary Bloodline Conspiracy by Laurence Gardner, with colour plates, published by Element Books, Hardback and paperback: 416 pages.

This is an exploration of Mary Magdalene by the late art historian and genealogist, Laurence Gardner. He tells us of the duff stuff in the book ‘The Da Vinci Code’ by Dan Brown, and he exposes the scam of The Priory of Sion. He provides information about the French Connection, the anointing, the Nazarenes, Templars, the House of Judah, Mary and Martha at Bethany, explains who the three Marys were, Joseph of Arimathea, the Fisher King, Qumran, Sarah-Salome, the Sangreal, the Jerusalem Temple, Chartres Cathedral, the Ark of the Covenant, the Atbash Code, the messianic lineage, Leonardo da Vinci, Sophia, the Gospels, Simon Zealotes, Sts. Peter and Paul, the Old Testament, including the revelations of the names of the persons who wrote St John’s Gospel and the Book of Revelations, and he explains his take that ‘bread’ mentioned in the Lord’s Prayer was a ‘powder of projection’ that was manufactured by Karnak priests, and was the foundation of the Davidic dynasty (not what you might think but something rather incredible). And you will never believe what Joseph and Joseph of Arimathea did for a living! There are short chapters on Arthur, the Grail Castle, and the Last Supper! Revelations and more revelations, including many pages of genealogy. From Martin Malachi: “Only those of the bloodline of Jesus through his mother qualify for the designation of ‘desposyni’.” 

There is an in depth study of the days of the trial and crucifixion, grail tables and the Merovingians.

The Healing Wisdom of Mary Magdalene

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: The Healing Wisdom of Mary Magdalene - Esoteric Secrets of the Fourth Gospel by Jack Angelo. Published by Bear & Co. RRP US $16.00 : Can 19.50

Taking as its sources, the Gospel of John, the Gnostic Gospels the fragments of text that comprise the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, we read that she was a gifted visionary and spiritual teacher and was intended to lead the Jerusalem group following the death of Jeshua, a Jewish shaman prophet, but was prevented by the male authority figures who were also the Disciples of Jesus. Jack Angelo, a Welsh writer and now healer, had personal contact with Mary Magdalene, who he refers to as Maryam, hearing her voice and being able to speak with her. The book is his memoir of the insights which endorse the importance of this obscure teaching, and brings about healing and transformation. 

A glossary and suggestions for further reading are included. 

The Church of Mary Magdalene

Mind Body Soul Ezine Book Review: The Church of Mary Magdalene - The Sacred Feminine and the Treasures of Rennes-le-Chateau by Jean Markale

This book examines the connection between the Templars, the Cathars, and the enigmas of the Rennes-le-Chateau area of France, and its connection to the legends of Mary Magdalene. Does the church hold the answers to the questions that seekers ask about who Mary Magdalene was? Was she ever there? Was she married to Jesus? Did she have children? Was she a High Priestess who anointed the Priest King into his spiritual destiny? Etc. These questions are answered in the text along with the mystery of a newly appointed priest in 1885 and the unusual behaviour and strange building work that occurred during his tenure. Did he discover something valuable while renovating the church, from Roman, Templar, Cathar, or other group?  

Mary Magdalene, Beloved Disciple

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Mary Magdalene, Beloved Disciple by Clysta Kinstler, published by Cygnus Books, paperback 320 pages £9.95

The late Clysta Kinstler taught Women's Studies, Humanities and the Philosophy of Religion at American River College, Sacramento, California and is also the author of "Moon Under Her Feet', a biblical account of the myth of Isis and Osiris, and Inanna and Dumuzi and a connection of Mary and Jesus to the ancient stories. 

In this novel, 'Mary Magdalene, Beloved Disciple', the perspective is again in this Middle Eastern 'goddess' culture genre that is woven into the Jewish biblical narrative. Written from the perspective of Mary, as though it is her 'gospel' as the divine feminine spouse of Jesus, her story is one of love struggling against the forces of evil that beset their lives. As the goddess representative on Earth, Mary, a tower to her people, she is strong, capable, caring and sincere. With quotes from Dante's Inferno, the Old and New Testament, Bhaghavad Gita, and other sources, the topic is fleshed out into a highly readable, enjoyable and moving storyline. 

Magdalene Mysteries

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Magdalene Mysteries - The Left Hand Path of the Feminine Christ by Seren & Azra Bertrand. Published by Bear & Co. 

Mary Magdalene, as we know from original and earliest sources was a Jewish woman who assisted Jesus and the apostles with their finances. She had seven demons driven from her by Jesus, and was at the foot of the cross when he was crucified. And she is reputed to have been the first person to see the risen Christ. Even this last point about her life is debatable. Women were not considered reliable witnesses, especially one who had been affected with 7 demons. As a Biblical persona, she has been confused with Mary of Bethany, and Mary of Egypt, hence the accusation of prostitution - a terrible slur against her name. 

This book is a NewAge/Fertility Goddess genre paperback. It’s about a pagan Mary Magdalene, coupled with assumptions and corruptions, and it’s about a different kind of Jesus to the one that is prophecies and documented in the Old & New Testaments. For 1,400 years, Mary Magdalene suffered a gross injustice, as she was accused by the Papacy of prostitution. There is nothing in the New Testament to associate her name with this way of making her money. Was Jesus a pimp living off immoral earnings? It is highly unlikely that this Mary was a prostitute, as Jewish women and the entire society were extremely sexually oppressed. At the time, with Roman soldiers in the city, disease would have been rampant amongst prostitutes and they would have been violently driven from the city. 

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