Book Review: The Book of Mirrors, by Luthaneal Adams

Ok, I don't normally do book reviews for people I know. This is because I take books very seriously and I would never give a bad book a good review. I'm also a very loyal friend and would never want to do anything that would not be 100% supportive. As you can see how these two things might conflict with each other, I decided "I will not review friend's books" was a good general rule to live by. 

However, when one of your closest friends, who you love dearly plays an absolute blinder and writes an absolute frickin' "must read" as their debut book, you kind of feel the need to shout about it... So on with the review...

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‘The Book of Mirrors’ is quite a unique book… actually it’s a very unique book, the likes of which I've never read before. The market for Wiccan books is huge, as is the shear number of titles out there, so for Luthaneal Adams to pull out this absolute gem as his debut is astounding.

The book blurb gives potential readers an insight into what sets this book apart from the rest of it’s genre:

“The aim of this book is to help people who find themselves training with a witch coven or just considering it. The author concentrates on his experiences, rather than trying to pad out those experiences with a lot of general information on Wicca. There are already enough books on the market that provide the basics of Wiccan belief. This book opens a window into the process of training with a coven, both for the prospective trainees and for all those covens out there who may benefit from seeing things from the other side.”

My main concern when reading the above text on the back cover of a book would be that I was about to invest in reading page after page of dramatic emotional self exploration, which although interesting would offer little in the way of practical advice to anyone. However nothing could be further from the truth.

What ‘The Book of Mirrors’ actually does is present the road to initiation in a very honest, relatable way. This book is not preachy on any level, in fact it devotes as much time to the doubts, reservations and disappointments of the author, as it does the rewards and spiritual benefits.

In the interests of giving a balanced review I always try and give some criticism of books, but in this case the only one I can honestly give is that it occasionally makes the reader feel slightly guilty. The type of guilt you feel when encroaching on someone’s privacy, looking at them a little too intensely, or reading their diary. In reality, this is something that the author should receive absolute praise for.

‘The Book of Mirrors’ is written entirely without ego, it is honest and it wholly endears the reader to the author.


I honestly can't see a way in which 'The Book of Mirrors', won't become essential reading for every would-be initiate and coven leader. If you are interested in Wicca, read this book. If you are part of a coven, read this book. If you have Wiccan friends/family, read this book.

Catch up...

Hello,
        Thought I'd put up a quick post as it's been a hectic time lately and I've been unusually quiet on here!
Well, on a personal level we had a car crash and a house move to contend with just before Yule, and although things are pretty much settled down now, things are still as busy as ever!

       I'm just about keeping www.Hedge-Witchery.com up to date, and am in the process of bringing back the "Rocemmended Books" page. Hedge Witchery Books, is growing, we've got some fantastic new titles and some new writer coming on board, and even with Ricky joining the team things are mega busy, expect a website over-haul and some great new titles soon.

      Hedge Witchery Tarot, launched last month and we - (ok Ricky) - is in the process of making contact with all the psychics who've expressed an interest in joining the team. We're still looking for webcam psychics but expect to see the cool wall of live video streams - (and yes you can chat to them all at once... for free, lol) - to be growing soon.

     The follow up the Elemental Guided Meditation I released last summer is well in the works and should be being released around the end of February. The next handy little guide I'm writing, on divination using symbols through medative states, will land around June.

     We're hitting as many events as we can this Summer, there's an events page on Hedge-Witchery.com that they'll all get put on, and I'm hoping to catch up with as many people as possible. However, in order to do that the next few months will have to be spent firmly behind my computer desk... although I'm not complaining, the manuscripts I have the great pleasure of publishing are fantastic, and working with the writers who created them is an absolute pleasure.

    If I'm off facebook for more than 3 days, send caffiene!

Lily x

Is there such a thing as a Pagan Atheist?

First of all we should establish what the term “Pagan Atheist” means. Let's break down that title into it's respective components, and look at their definitions in modern English:

“pa·gan
n.
1. An adherent of a polytheistic religion in antiquity, especially when viewed in contrast to an adherent of a monotheistic religion.
2. A Neopagan.

3. Offensive
a. One who has no religion.
b. An adherent of a religion other than Judaism, Christianity, or Islam.
4. A hedonist.”

“a·the·ist
n.
One who disbelieves or denies the existence of God or gods.”

(definitions take from www.thefreedictionary.com)

Looking at the information above we can ration that Pagan Atheist may indeed be an accurate description of someone who holds hedonistic values and believes in no god(s). However, as this term seems to be appearing more and more this is often not the way in which it is used.

If you run the term “pagan atheist” through a search engine you'll find many different definitions and views.

One of the common ones is that it describes people who view pagan gods as metaphors for the different forces of nature that they do worship. Although they very much atheist, in so much that they do not worship a god or gods. But, are they Pagan? Well if we look at the top two definitions above then, no they aren't. The worship of nature as the divine is not Paganism, it's a belief system called Pantheism, however some people shy away from this term as some sources define it as meaning “worshipping all gods” rather than “worshipping the god in all”. Some people also dislike the term because in most definitions the term “god” is used, however it does not imply a “creator god” or powerful beings, it refers to a divine force. A similar belief system is Animism which although doesn’t denote the belief in a god figure, but refers to the belief that all things in nature have a spiritual side and all have a “soul”.

Another common view is that “Pagan Atheist” refers to someone who although doesn’t believe in Pagan god(s), classes themselves as Pagan on a cultural level, and lives there life in a way that holds to Pagan ideals. Although this doesn't strictly fit with a dictionary definition, to me this makes sense. Many people will describe themselves as Jewish, Mormon, Muslim, etc. Not as a way of identifying their beliefs, but as a way of describing their heritage. With the rise in Paganism, and more children being brought up in Pagan families, this is a use of the term I feel we will see more of in years to come.

What these two examples illustrate is that “Pagan Atheist” is a perfectly suitable term for describing someone’s culture, heritage and values. However, it is not - (in my humble opinion) - an accurate description of a spiritual path or religion.

Reading Witches Stones

     Below are ten symbols you would commonly see used on witches stones. Personally these are the symbols I would use if putting together a set for someone who was interested in learning them.

Wyrd - Fate, destiny, the unknown, that which is yet to be decided.

Black - Negativity, bad luck.

Spears - An argument, dispute or confrontation.

Moon - A change, usually within 28 days (one moon cycle).

Sun - Growth, prosperity, abundance.

God - A man or a leader like/providing force.

Goddess - A female figure, a protective force or a care giver.

Birds - A message.

Corn - A work or career situation, or hard work bringing rewards.

Rings - A partnership or relationship.

Some other symbols you may come across are;

Spiral - A situation gathering momentum, a situation that has been ongoing for some time.

Birds - A message.

Waves - Travel, contact from close friends/family.

Wheel - The current situation is only temporary.

Nail - Needed help/protection coming.

Key - A new opportunity presenting itself.

   Usually to use the stones I would do either a three or seven stone casting. Three stone castings are good for getting a feel for the stones when you first start working with them, they are also great for quick answers and readings to uncomplicated questions and scenarios. Seven stone castings are great for general readings, or more complicated queries. Both are performed pretty much the same way.

   First hold the bag containing the stones and gently shake the stones whilst clearly holding the information and answers you wish to get from the reading in your mind. If doing the reading for someone else make sure you have this person at the forefront of your thoughts too.

   Pick stones out of the bag , hold them together in one had 4-6 inches above table and then drop them. Look at the stones and how they have landed. Some stones will have fallen close to each other , these stones will relate to each other. Some stones may have landed upside down. Some readers will simply turn them over and read as normal - (this is my own chosen method), some will discount them all together, and some believe that it indicates the opposite of the meaning indicated when the stone is the correct way up."

Book Review: Mrs Darley's Pagan Healing Wisdom

I was recently sent a copy of “Mrs Darley's Pagan Healing Wisdom”, the book is written by Carole Carlton, and is the fourth book in the “Mrs Darley” series. Anyone looking at the cover and title of this book would be forgiven for thinking that they were looking at a spell book of healing rituals, but as the back cover explains...

“When we become ill we search for a cure, but a cure only suppresses the symptoms of disorder; it fails to address the underlying cause. When we search for healing, we are encouraged to look beyond the symptom, in order to explore the emotional, psychological and spiritual imbalances which underpin the illness.

Following several periods of less than robust health, Carole Carlton's enigmatic next door neighbour, the ever wise Mrs Darley, invited her to embark on a journey of healing through the five senses. It was a journey that not only made Carole view life and death in a different way, but also altered the way in which she interacted with her body. It ultimately became a magickal journey that changed Carole's career and touched her soul.”

The main body of this book contains information, history and references to how the human body responds to the way it interacts with it's surroundings. How these things can manifest into physical and psychological aliments, and what can be done to prevent and address these things if they do cause ill affects.

Usually books like this are fairly textbook-ish, and not the sort of thing you would sit down with on a Sunday afternoon with a pot of tea. However, the way the book has been structured means that all the factual and evidential information is peppered with “Mrs Darley Tale” segments. These anecdotal, diary-type stories not only make this book a much more enjoyable read, but also put the information you've absorbed into an everyday context, making it easier to relate to and put into practice.

After reading this book I would have no hesitation in recommending it to my Pagan friends who are interested in healing work. I would also list it as a good read for anyone, regardless of spiritual affiliation, who is interested in alternative therapies, or is currently studying or working in the fields of holistic therapies or homeopathy.

For more information about Carole Carlton and the “Mrs Darley” series of books visit www.arcanus.co.uk.

How to make a cloak...