The Templar Treasure of Gisors

Mind Body Soul Ezine Book Review: The Templar Treasure of Gisor by Jean Markale, Published by Inner Traditions/Bear & Co. Paperback 304 pages, £15.99 Using source documents, this controversial author, the late Jean Markale, considers that Templar treasures were hidden within the Cathedral at Gisor, possibly within the many underground chambers and passageways that are held to be too dangerous to investigate by modern archaeologists. The author accepts that the original confession of the Templars to heresy (conducted under extreme torture) was true and ignores their following retraction. Jean Markale (1928 - 2008) was the pen name of Jean Bertrand - described by himself as a Celtic and mediaeval scholar at the Sorbonne. Here he suggests that within the Knights Templar Order was a secret band of knights who had access to knowledge and wealth, spiritual and material, that is still to be found. This author has been discredited more than a couple of times!

The Goddess Casts the Runes

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: The Goddess Casts the Runes - Divination & Wisdom of the Earth Mother by Anu Dudley. Published by Destiny Books. RRP US $16.99 : Can $21.50

A Sacred Planet Book. 

Information on each rune is detailed, along with personal stories from the author, their original female Havamal origin, and how the Elder Futhark runes are cast and read from the perspective of earth based, feminist style goddess ethics and wisdom. Each of the 24 runes is explained individually. They are divided into three sections of Maiden, Mother and Crone. with The Maiden Arc of Birthrights, the Mother Arc of Challenges, and the Crone Arc of Relationships. 

Anyone working with this method of casting and reading the runes will grow closer to the Norse deities, and will grow in understanding of the energies that inspired the development of the runes. If you like runic energies, you will love this way of working with the goddess. 

Written by Anu Dudley, an ordained Pagan minister and retired history professor, you know this book will be an authority on the both the goddess and the runes, and the reclaiming of the runes for the goddess. She teaches courses: History of the Goddess, Paganism 101, and Ethical Magic, and she produces a radio show, Earthwise - Reflections on Earth-based Spirituality. 

Recommended. review by Wendy Stokes 

Ancient Goddess Magic

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Ancient Goddess Magic - Invoking the Queens of the Heavens by Vanessa Lavallee. Published by Destiny Books. £10.99 December 2025

The Canadian author, Vanessa Lavallee MA is an Anamist practitioner and ancient magic enthusiast. Her Masters thesis was in ancient religions and she is working towards a Doctorate in religious studies. She is immensely knowledgeable and yet, explains so simply, the book is very readable, and coming from this academic and expert on the subject, is deep and warm and trusted information. 

The chapters are divided into aspects of the goddess, as Creatrix, Warrior, Healer, Lady of the Sea, and there are additional chapters for rituals pertaining to astrology, and our legacy of celestial magic. Many beautiful images in black and white illustrate the pages. Goddess symbols are included and goddesses are detailed with their time of the seasons, with their principle message and power. There are quotes from texts that pertain to the energies. 

The Spiritual Roots of the Tarot

Mind, Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: The Spiritual Roots of the Tarot - The Cathar Code Hidden in the Cards by Russell A Sturgess. Published by Inner Traditions. US $24.99 : CAN $31.50 Quality paperback 339 pages. 

Many photos are included including full colour glossy images to illustrate the text which covers what is described as the Western Tradition of Mindfulness that has its roots in Christian Gnosticism, and includes the Medieval Theology of Love - sacred knowledge of the holy grail that leads to inner peace and enlightenment. The author, Russell Sturgess was conducting research into the Tarot when he realised that the Cathars, when accused of heresy, had hidden their Gnostic Christian wisdom teachings within the Major Arcana of the Marseilles Tarot card images. The Magician and the Strength cards hold keys to recalibrating Christ consciousness alongside particular cards within the deck that act as pivotal energies to take us from ignorance to awareness, and through to what the Cathars referred to as the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ which is presented within these cards. These are medieval mysteries for our modern day. 

The Three Stages of Initiatic Spirituality

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: The Three Stages of Initiatic Spirituality - Craftsman. Warrior. Magician. By Angel Miller. Published by Inner Traditions. RRP US $18.99 : Can $23.99 

The three stages are detailed, each archetype described in turn, with meditation, tools, energies, symbols, rituals, practices, inner experiences, and how to gain balance and spiritual growth through the initiation. 

The text covers history, religion, psychology, Freemasonry, art, the New Age, the supernatural, and includes a great deal of occult information. Topics are alchemy, consciousness, death, the divine, the Golden Age, the Higher Self, 

It is presented as a practical text book with vast amounts of notes and in depth understanding. The bibliography is considerable. Kabbalah, meditation, rituals, shamanism, energies, warfare, the Will, and many other popular topics of occultism and magic. 

Becoming a Garment of Isis

Mind Body & Soul Book Review: Becoming A Garment of Isis - A Nine-Stage Initiatory Path of Egyptian Spirituality by Naomi Ozaniec, published by Inner Traditions. 315 pages. 

From the Preface: Melbourne 2009 “As the light is a great comfort to a traveller on a dark night, as the light is a great comfort to a ship approaching a new coastline, as the light is a great comfort to the distressed, as the beacon is a great comfort to a besieged people, so I am a light for the soul. Only when your soul powers have begun to stir will you seek me out. Until then, you will be content with the world of appearances; you are not seek my light. As a light provides a guide in dark places, so my light shines without ceasing. As one flame may light another, so I will ignite your soul powers so that you may come into the fullness of your own divine light. But releasing the illumination of the soul is more than the work of a lifetime, so I open the door of remembering so that you may walk in my footsteps following my light to where it leads. I have been a light upon the Earth and it is my wish that my light shall burn brightly again. For where I am remembered upon the altar through the lighting of lights, so I am also as a light in your heart. This is where our relationship begins and where our lights may meet, the greater holding the lesser in its brilliance. Once we have embraced soul light to soul light, we are linked by the love of our hearts. For do not doubt my love for all that lives upon earth.”