Sacred Land

With a subtitle like “Intuitive Gardening for Personal, Political & Environmental Change”, the author had quite a big job ahead of her. Fortunately for her readers, Clea Danaan lived up to her promise and delivered a book that is set to change the world, one garden at a time.

There’s only 230 pages of text, but it’s packed with tips on how to create healthy, ethical, organic gardens, while developing a spiritual connection with the land at the same time. It reveals the secrets of creating great compost; has some great tips on water conservation; and shows how to save seeds for next year’s planting. And I know that pagans will enjoy reading the chapters on how to connect with garden Goddesses. Clea includes information on the Goddesses “to inspire your spirit, and to awaken the power of myth”. Her descriptions of those deity that are linked to the earth, to herbs, and to fertility, remind us how easy it is to connect to the divine while we undertake our everyday chores in the mundane world. And Clea’s meditations upon the elements help to bring about a stronger connection to the life-forces within your own back yard.

The author’s aim was to show us how to garden spiritually, because while we’re tending our own backyards, we’re also helping to slow down global warming, and we’re creating strong and healthy communities. We’re told that gardening with a sense of mindfulness and awareness helps us to recognise our gardening allies: birds, spiders, worms, ants, snakes, bees and bats. And we’re reminded to acknowledge the gnomes, faeries and goddesses of the land at the same time!

This is a lovely book (printed on recycled paper) which is filled with interesting and inspiring facts, and it offers plenty of practical tips for working within our current problem of water restrictions, and the ever-present dilemma of overcoming garden pests in environmentally friendly ways.

There’s a lot that I like about this book, and only a few things that annoyed me. The first thing that irritated me was that the content of Sacred Land is strongly geared towards feminist readers, with wording such as “my gardening sisters” being used quite often. In the introduction, the author explains that she writes, “for women who are rediscovering the power of the sacred feminine in their lives, and who want to use that power to create positive change in the world.” Hey Clea, men like their gardens too! Without that balance of male and female energies, the garden isn’t going to grow very well.

The other thing that bugged me was the layout and design. Each page is divided into two columns. Since this book is small in size, it means that you only get 4 or 5 words to each line! And many of these words are hyphenated because they can’t be squeezed into such a small area.

Having said that, this book helped me to realise how judgemental and critical I’ve become as I’ve grown older. The disdain that I had for this book when I looked at those columns, swayed me into disliking it before I’d made it past the introduction. But when I delved into the first chapter, the concept of looking at the garden in a more meaningful and pagan way grabbed my attention, and I found myself liking the clever, wholistic approach to this subject. One example of how Clea takes a simple concept and gives it relevance to pagans is with the subject of the humble worm. She reminds us that worms are sacred to Hermes. After a brief description of Hermes, she suggests that when you see worms, ask yourself, “In what ways might worm energy help you in sifting through your own life and bringing about transformation? How might they bring nutrition and balance into your garden - the one in the soil and the larger garden of life?”

Another thing that I liked was that amongst the information about the seasonal festivals, Clea included the dates for the Southern Hemisphere.

“The garden can be a powerful tool for personal, political, and environmental change. This book is a beginning place, a launching point for your own sacred work.” This quote from the author is a fair summary of her reason for writing “Sacred Land”, and it gives the reader an indication of the spirit and enthusiasm within Clea herself.

Sacred Land is a good addition to any Earth-loving pagan’s library. Clea’s reverence for the garden, which she regards as “a living altar”, is quite obvious, and it’s infectious too. This is a book that will send us back into our backyards and veggie patches with a sense of purpose; and with a desire to create a better world from the ground up.

Title: Sacred Land
Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide
Author: Clea Danaan
ISBN: 0-7387-1146-2

Radical Gratitude

Can you imagine what it would feel like to be in a family that was dragged from home at gunpoint, and loaded onto a crowded railway carriage (meant for cattle) and sent to an unknown destination? Can you honestly comprehend what it would be like to be crammed into one of those filthy cattle cars for three weeks, with no heating, no food, and only a hole in the floor to use as a toilet? And what if when you arrived in Siberia, your grandfather chose not to eat, so that you would have more nourishment, and you watched him sacrifice his own life through starvation.

My immediate response would be of bitterness towards my oppressors, but Andrew Bienkowski found that this horrifying experience brought him many gifts... and one of those gifts was the grace of “radical gratitude”. As he states in this enlightening book, “Once we learn to actively seek reasons to be grateful, we suddenly find them everywhere. And when we learn to focus intention on our own gratitude, gratitude becomes a way of life and our efforts to help others become natural and spontaneous. Once you have learned to access the healing power of radical gratitude, you will find that the fullness of life greets you at every turn.”

This is an inspiring book on many levels, and its spiritual lessons are portrayed through unforgettable examples. As the title suggests though, the underlying theme of this book is gratitude. It reminds us that despite our circumstances, we have much in life to be grateful for. “Even a colourful butterfly flitting past, the discovery of a delicious mushroom, a handful of wild strawberries, or the beauty of a spider’s web covered with morning dew was a cause for gratitude in Siberia. It was a chance to celebrate the beauty of life, of nature, a reminder that there was still good in the world.”

Elsewhere in the book we are told, “The gifts were small, but they were everywhere, as they are today. The key is to learn to look for them and to be open to them. Siberia is where I developed my intense love of and respect for nature, which has become a source of great happiness in my life.”

This book is really three books in one volume. It’s a story of how a family overcame extreme hardship and adversity that was inflicted upon their body, mind and spirit. It’s also a New Age book that focuses on spiritual values such as love, courage, kindness and compassion. And finally, this book is like “The Road Less Travelled”, because Andrew Bienkowski is a clinical psychotherapist, and he takes the reader through case histories that illustrate practical guidance for living a more peaceful life, with greater well-being. Oh, maybe there’s a fourth aspect of this book too... the author loves quotes... he seems to have been collecting inspirational quotes all his life, wondering when he’ll get the chance to use them, so he does that here... using them on almost every page!

The main reason why the author published his experiences of life in Siberia, was so that you “can become inoculated against the dissatisfaction, disassociation and despair of modern life. That you can trust yourself to help your friends and loved ones in ways that you felt were not possible before. That you will learn to feel and recognise your own healing powers and use them to make the world a little bit better, one person at a time.” If people take the time to truly listen to the messages in this story, there’s no doubt that the world will end up a better place, just as Bienkowski has intended.

Radical Gratitude is not a pagan book, yet it is, in so many ways. It shows the importance of recognising our connection to nature and all that is. It’s uplifting, thought provoking, and provides a spiritual treasure-trove of inspiration. I hope we hear more from him in years to come.

Published by: Allen & Unwin
Authors: Andrew Bienkowski and Mary Akers
ISBN: 9781741754223
RRP: AUD$22.95

The Shining Isle

I’d been looking forward to more tales of The Travelers (a group of magical beings who roam around the countryside in human form) and Ly de Angeles has delivered another exciting story that I was reluctant to put down. I’ve previously reviewed two of her previous books, When I See the Wild God, and The Quickening. This one features the same characters, but also brings some new people into the spotlight, including Scathach, a warrior princess brought over from the Otherworld.

This book has a great premise: Inishrún is a mysterious island which is a gathering place for the clans of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the mighty Fey Folk. It has been invaded by capitalists who don’t understand its significance - and the gods and goddesses have to intervene to stop the magic of the place from being polluted by greed and ignorance.

Reading The Quickening first would give you a better idea of who the characters are, but The Shining Isle is also a novel that stands alone in its own right. Ly de Angeles has written an adventure novel that brings the Celtic Gods and Goddesses to life in front of your eyes, and you’ll get shivers across your neck as you feel their presence within the exciting plot developments. Highly recommended to those who like to see the Old Gods alive and busy in the world around us – laughing, making music, and totally involved in love and war!

Author: Ly de Angeles
Published by: Llewellyn Publications, 2006
ISBN: 0-7387-0834-8

When I See the Wild God

Hidden amongst the Silver Ravenwolf and Scott Cunningham books on the “Wicca” shelf of your metaphysical bookstore, I hope you are lucky enough to find a copy of this excellent book by Australian author Ly De Angeles. It’s a different style of book that offers an alternative view to the way witchcraft is normally practiced. How is it different? That’s hard to explain, but it isn’t a “beginner’s guide to Wicca”, and it isn’t an “advanced students only” manual – it’s just completely different to anything else I’ve read on the subject!

The title and the blurb on the back cover suggested that this book was “infused with a masculine sensibility”, however I didn’t find that there was a huge emphasis on the male side of the Craft. Sure, there was a chapter that described about a dozen Celtic gods, and this included ways that you could utilize their energies in spells or ritual work, but the majority of the book was geared towards witchcraft in general, without having an obvious focus on gender roles.

I felt that this book provided a reasonable sense of balance to the (predominantly) female bias that is found in most volumes on the subject of witchcraft. As she says in the introduction, “...without a deep understanding of her Brother/Son/King/Consort/Champion – the witch’s God – the world is a sad and unbalanced place...”

Ly De Angeles gives the reader a modern perspective of witchcraft – with a Celtic twist. The highlight of the book is the seasonal rituals – Ly De Angeles has produced a magickal narrative that leads us on an urban-style ritual journey through the Equinoxes and Solstices. These are GREAT! The writing style, content and ingenuity surpass any other ritual ideas that I’ve ever seen in any other book. The author has successfully broken free from the standard format, and with the use of story-telling, she has produced meaningful rites that are a joy to read. And I’ll be putting them into practice as soon as I can!

One of my complaints about this book is that unusual terms such as Déithe (Gods) and draíocht (magic) are liberally sprinkled through the text, without any reference to their meaning. Fortunately the author includes a glossary at the back of the book so that you can discover what she is talking about. The only other negative comment is about having “filler” chapters about the tools of the witch, and the invocation of the pentagrams - subjects that are covered in books for beginners, and which are out of place in a book such as this.

Sometimes it seems more like a collection of essays than a book with any sense of continuity, but there are many chapters that stand out brightly, glowing like the eyes of the Wild Gods which she writes about so eloquently. On the whole, this is an entertaining and rewarding book.

Author Ly De Angeles
Published by: Llewellyn Publications 2004

The Quickening

As a rule, I’m not really into fiction novels, I’d rather have my nose buried in a reference book any day! But when I found one that was written by an Australian witch (Ly de Angeles) I thought it was worth a look, and after reading through ‘The Quickening’ in one sitting, I was so glad that I did.

In this book she has weaved an urban fantasy about the Sídhe (pronounced Shee) who travel around the country awakening the magickal powers of those who have forgotten their true nature. These Travellers are from the clans of the Tuatha Dé Danann - the mighty Fey Folk - sometimes known as ‘fairies’, but you’d have to be very brave to call them that!

Herne the Hunter (with dreadlocks!), Brighid (a fortyish woman with tattoos on her face) and She who is only known as ‘the Great Mystery’ - work together with a group of musical and magickal friends to discover who is responsible for vicious attacks on various spiritual centres across the city.

I’d met these characters before, in another book by Ly de Angeles called ‘When I See the Wild God’ – which was reviewed in the Lughnasadh 2005 edition of Silver Wheel. That book was a modern perspective of Celtic witchcraft, in which she described how to utilize the energies of the Celtic Gods in ritual work. The people in ‘The Quickening’ formed part of the storyline that was the basis of the seasonal rituals in the ‘Wild God’ book. And now, they’ve become part of a larger, more involved story and with this extra room for character development, they’ve become even more endearing.

Ly de Angeles was initiated as a witch when she was 17 years of age, and became a High Priestess in 1980. She draws upon her experiences of magic and the Otherworlds to create an engaging plot that has all the elements (excuse the pun) that appeal to pagans - and the writing style is quite lyrical at times. Here’s an example... “Shadows, shadows - lithe and swift - surrounded him, all unseen, all alert to danger - earthy graces loving the man they ran with, creating a deeper darkness to protect him.”

In the story, beings from Celtic mythology, and practitioners of Vodoun, Shamanism, Wicca and Shinto all join forces in an unusual saga of Good versus Evil. But in true magickal style, those on the side of ‘Good’ tend to play rather rough, knowing that in the eyes of the gods, the end always justifies the means! They also get help from a flock of birds that are aptly named ‘the Conspiracy of Ravens’ and the conversations between the birds are clever and amusing.

Make sure that you refer to the glossary at back of the book, as many unusual terms are used in the story, but this also adds to its sense of authenticity. The characters are quiet well-rounded. You view some of the bad guys in a different light when you read of the sadness in their souls which drives their negative behaviour patterns. And the gods are shown to have weaknesses too, with bickering and pettiness surfacing occasionally.

This is a highly enjoyable book that brings the Old Gods and the Fey Folk to life. Ly de Angeles has created a series of loveable characters that will stay in your heart and mind long after you’ve put the book down. You won’t look at the world in the same way after you’ve experienced it through the eyes of this author!


Author: Ly de Angeles
Published by: Llewellyn Publications, 2005
ISBN: 0-7387-0664-7

The Outer Temple of Witchcraft

Christopher Penczak has created a series of impressive guidebooks for those beginners who are taking their initial, tentative steps along the Wiccan path. The first book was called ‘The Inner Temple of Witchcraft’, and this dealt with meditation and the inner work required for magickal practice. It covered the historical and philosophical concepts of Wicca, and included an understanding of the terminology used.

The next book in this five-volume series is ‘The Outer Temple of Witchcraft’, and this focuses on creating sacred space, Wiccan rituals, understanding the elements, and learning spellcraft. It’s set up as 12 lessons (a lesson/chapter for each month of the year) culminating with a test and a self-initiation ritual to the level of priest or priestess. I like the sense of discipline that he encourages, and the book is filled with lots of examples and stories of his personal experiences. The ritual chants at the end of the book are also a welcome inclusion.

Unlike many books that simply tell you that a witch must have this or that, in order to really be a witch, Christopher’s approach is more simple, practical and meaningful. For example, when writing about altars, he states: “It reminds a witch that everything is sacred. It represents what the witch is working on, in the inner and outer worlds. If you leave a candle burning for a current spell, that is where your sacred attention is focused. If you put something on it to represent your inner learning, such as a particular herb or stone, you are emphasizing those lessons in your own inner sacred world. You see it every day, and every day, you rededicate yourself to the spiritual path simply by acknowledging it. By making a space for it in your home, you are symbolically making a space for the life of a witch in your life. Every action is powerful and symbolic, not only affecting our subconscious mind, but also energetically affecting us and our environment for the better.” Beautiful!

And there’s a sentence in lesson six (Divination of True Will) that I really like. It goes like this: “Divination, like meditation, is a form of learning to listen.” But that’s the only sentence that I like in that chapter! I don’t have a problem with authors wanting to include a chapter on divination in their guidebooks, but why do they think that in one chapter they can teach their students how to use all forms of divination? It takes Penczac only 9 pages to explain all there is to know about tarot, and many of those pages had me growling with frustration at his lack of research on this subject. Grrrr!

The Outer Temple of Witchcraft has more substance than Silver Ravenwolf’s beginner guides for teen witches, and this series is probably even better than Scott Cunningham’s respected titles! I liked the meditations, exercises and homework at the end of each chapter - I feel that these would definitely deepen the reader’s understanding of each lesson. But there’s not a lot of new material here – not much that you can’t find in other books, however the author does package the information well. You’d have trouble finding a more comprehensive workbook for a newcomer who is wanting steady guidance into do-it-yourself Witchcraft training.

Author: Christopher Penczak
Published by: Llewellyn

Night of the Fifth Moon

When I am reviewing a book, there are two main signs that show I’m enjoying what I’m reading...
1) I forget to jump off the train at the right station because I’m so engrossed in the story.
2) There’s bits of paper sticking out of the book, so that I can refer back to interesting pieces of information.

While reading Night of the Fifth Moon, I missed my train station twice in the one week; and the book had so many pieces of paper sticking out of it, that it looked like the top had been caught in a shredder! This novel is supposed to be for young readers (the 10 to 14 age group) but it’s definitely going to appeal to book lovers of any vintage. Especially if you have an interest in paganism.

The story is about a group of Irish children (about twelve years old) who have been sent to the local druid as foster children. They each aim to become the anruth, an assistant to Faelán, the druid of the forest. This adventure novel is set in Ireland, sixteen hundred years ago, a time when lifestyles were harsh and basic, and when the druids were the most important people in the villages. The whole community, even the king, listened to his words of wisdom, and feared his magic.

The title refers to the challenge that Faelán offers the fosterlings. For the following five months he will teach them the skills of druidry, but at the time of each new moon, one will be sent back to his or her original home, until only one remains. From Samhain Eve to just beyond Imbolc, we journey through the challenges set to the fosterlings.

Modern day truths and homilies are included in this story, encouraging young readers towards better manners and an awareness of the consequences of their actions. For example, after a lesson on being receptive to the spirits and energies around them, Faelán mentions, “Ordinary mortals smash through this world, disturbing and destroying for their own needs. But a druid tries to be part of the Greater Harmony.”

I was also impressed with how the author managed to give me an understanding of the Ogham script, without compromising the readability of the story.

The book has 243 pages of large print, making it easy for kids to read. My only criticism is that I felt that some of the words were beyond the scope of an average child’s vocabulary. I don’t know too many kids who would know the meaning of expostulated, foment, and lour.

“Fortune favours those who recount a tale faithfully,” says Faelán in this story, and therefore fortune must favour this author, as this is an imaginative story that is told in the best of Bardic traditions: offering excitement, moral lessons, heroes, villains, surprising twists, and a satisfying conclusion.

Author: Anna Ciddor
Publisher: Allen and Unwin Australia
ISBN: 9781741148145
RRP: AUD$15.95

About the author: Anna Ciddor lives in Melbourne, and is also the author of the Viking Magic fantasy series, which includes: Runestone, Wolfspell, and Stormriders. Since 1989 she has had over 50 books published.

Maiden Mother Crone - the three faces of the Goddess

Although this book was first published in 1994, its popularity has meant that it has now been given re-release status, with extra marketing and advertising as well. I’m glad that this has happened - I’ve been meaning to check it out for ages! It’s a great reference book to gain a greater awareness of the myths and realities of the Triple Goddess. And the stunning pencil illustrations by Lisa Hunt add a lovely, extra dimension to the text.

Here is a book that explores our ancient relationship with the Goddess of mythology. It’s filled with Goddess stories from around the world, which helps us to understand aspects of our own selves. As the author (D.J. Conway) suggests in her introduction, “Reconnection with the Great Goddess archetype and Her three faces is vital to the health of humankind on all levels.”

The chapters on each form of the Goddess are filled with correspondences and ideas for spells and rituals. Detailed myths are also told, so that we have a better idea of Her qualities, form, and power.

Guided meditations and examples of rituals are a welcome inclusion in the lengthy Appendix, but too many pages at the end are devoted to a dictionary of symbols - that sort of information is readily available elsewhere.

This is a lovely book that offers a vivid description of the Goddess in all of her glorious forms. Through an understanding of basic archetypes and myths, it helps us to realise and accept our inevitable progression from the cradle to the grave, and all the challenging parts in between!


Published by: Llewellyn Worldwide
ISBN: 978-0-87542-171-1
Size: Trade paperback, 229 pages

Llewellyn's Magical Almanac 2009

Over 30 articles are included in the 2009 edition of Llewellyn’s newest Magical Almanac. Pagans with many years of experience behind them have contributed to another wonderful collection of essays on a variety of subjects that will fascinate those with a magickal mind.

Once again, the Table of Contents is divided into Earth Magic, Air Magic, Fire Magic and Water Magic. Within these sections there are articles on gardening, kitchen blessings, bells, wells, familiars, deities, the elements, tattoos, shamanism, cauldrons, and much more. The almanac section includes moon phases, moon signs, and correspondences.

I was also pleased to note that Llewellyn have noticed that the Southern Hemisphere Sabbat dates are different to our Northern neighbours, and they’ve included a list of ritual dates for their Antipodean readers.

I thought that this would be the perfect sort of book to pick up at the end of the day and read a chapter or two before drifting into dreams of myths and magick. But no, the articles are too interesting to treat so lightly. They’re full of practical pagan practices and creative ideas for rituals too. Instead of slipping towards slumber, I found myself busily jotting down notes and making plans for future seasonal rites.

I’ve been a fan of this series since I first found a copy back in 1992. I haven’t missed an edition since. They’re affordable, insightful and very well presented. Regardless of whether you’ve just begun wandering down the pagan path, or whether you’ve been on this journey for a while, treat yourself to some of this literary magick at your local bookstore.

The Magic of Menhirs & Circles of Stone

Have you ever wanted a sacred site in your own back yard? This book and DVD (packaged as a set) will help you to achieve that dream. Alanna Moore is an Australian writer and film maker who looks at ancient traditions, dowsing techniques, and places of power around the world. She’s put together this book and film for those who are interested in stone circles, earth energies, and learning how to recognise and create spiritual places in our environment.

The book is the first in a series of guidebooks, and it’s called A Little Geomantic Guidebook to The Magic of Menhirs and Circles of Stone. It is only 35 pages in length (spiral bound), but it is a useful addition to the excellent reference book Divining Earth Spirit, published by the same author earlier in the year.

Chapter one gives us a history lesson on the ancient uses of places such as Stonehenge. It also looks at the link between the stones and healing energies, and fairy traditions too. The concept of creating your own stone circles, and the making of medicine wheels using big stones or small pebbles, features further along in the book, but don’t skip any chapters in your haste to renovate the back garden, it’s all worth reading.

Sites created by the methods in this book are said to generate new ley lines as soon as people “began to use these constructions meditatively.” But Alanna points out that setting up stone circles can also attract unwanted energies, so be careful where you build them, as underground streams may be attracted, and their energies can be harmful if they pass under your home.

A few pages are devoted to labyrinths (geometric patterns created from hedges, stones, mounded earth, etc.) and the transformational effect of walking a labyrinth is described in detail. These patterns are linked to the ancient practices of initiations and shamanic journeys, and provide the opportunity for a blissful inner journey.

The book is well illustrated with photographs, and there are line drawings that clearly show how to draw or build your own labyrinth. The author’s aim in publishing this series is to give “practical information on the spiritual and energetic aspects of environment”, and this has been easily accomplished with this compact volume on geomancy.

Megalithomania is the companion DVD to the book reviewed above, and is part three of the Geomancy Today film series. It looks at the stone circles in England, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are over 9,000 stone circles through the British Isles, and it’s nice to see images of famous structures such as the Stone of Destiny at Tara in Ireland, and the stones that surround the village of Avebury.

Significant, natural formations in New Zealand and the Nimbin Valley are shown, as well as sacred stones of Central Australia. Touchstones are explained (the place where you respectfully introduce yourself to the spirits of a sacred site) and Alanna also shows how to create modern stone circles that can enhance the energy of an area, and attract nature spirits.

The DVD is fairly short (32 minutes) but it covers lots of interesting areas. The retail price for both items together is only AUD$24, and this includes postage and handling. It’s good value, and it will encourage you to create your very own labyrinth or stone circle in your backyard. I’d love to tell you more about this book and DVD set, but I have to go and collect some stones for my circle!

Author: Alanna Moore
Published by Python Press
PO Box 929 Castlemaine, Victoria, 3450
Email: info@geomantica.com
www.geomantica.com

Listen People, Speaking Earth

Who are contemporary Pagans and what do they do? Graham Harvey’s quest to find this answer has resulted in an informative book that covers the history and modern practices of Druids, Heathens, Shamans and Wiccans. Back in 1997, Adelaide’s Wakefield Press published Listening People, Speaking Earth, and it is the best reference book on Paganism that I’ve seen in a long time. Graham Harvey is a British lecturer in Religious Studies, and he’s been very thorough in this extensively researched account of our spiritual path, even including Australian magical methods.

It’s obvious that Paganism is more than an academic interest to this author, and although he doesn’t relate his own experiences in this book, he definitely associates on a personal level to the subject matter. He thinks of Pagans as “people who consider the world to be alive, they are listening to a speaking earth.” He shows that Pagans have a sense of reverence even for the mundane world, and his expression of this is almost poetic... “Sacredness collects as if in pools and sometimes splashes over into the ordinary, everyday parts of life.”

In this book, Harvey explains how Pagans honour Earth, the seasons, spiritual folklore and life itself. He also acknowledges the underlying humour that many Pagans have, so there are plenty of Terry Pratchett quotes liberally sprinkled around. He notes that Pratchett’s Discworld series is filled with Pagan references... “with its deities, its ordinary magic, animism, frequent synchronicities and meaningful encounters, its general earthiness, enchantment and diversity...”

After looking at Shamanism too, Harvey ponders... “Is Paganism, therefore, a monotheistic or a polytheistic religion? Or is it possible to be an atheist Pagan? Is animism a better label for Pagans than theists? It will be no surprise by now that Pagans can affirm all these options and more. Indeed, they can affirm several of them at once.” Yes Graham, we are a very diverse mob, and this is one of the most cherished aspects of Paganism for us. As tricky as this concept must be to an academic, to his credit, Graham Harvey accepts this uncommon view of deities as an intrinsic part of contemporary Paganism.

Animism is a subject that Graham Harvey becomes quite fond of. A section of this book is devoted to an exploration of this concept, and in 2005 he wrote a complete book on the subject. “Many Pagans are animists, asserting that everything that exists is alive,” he observes. “Words like ‘soul’ or ‘spirit’ are not always useful, but are attempts to say what it is about something which makes it alive. Rocks do not breathe, trees do not speak English, hedgehogs do not preach sermons, mosquitoes do not seem to theorise, clouds do not seem to aspire to immortality. So what does it mean to say that they are all alive?” He also writes.... “Like other aspects of Paganism, animism should not be considered a belief, but an exercise or way of life. It is a theory which is acted on and tested out, an approach or path which is walked.”

This is a broad introduction to the trends of contemporary Paganism, but it is also much more than an academic listing of Pagan topics. Harvey has spoken to the people involved in these areas and has empathised with their beliefs, and in reading between the lines, he has probably experienced the spiritual connection of many of these paths himself. It’s obvious that this researcher has been listening to the people involved in Paganism, and has truly understood the words of the Speaking Earth.

Author: Graham Harvey
Publisher: Wakefield Press, 1997
ISBN: 1-862544-03-4
Price: AUD $29.95

Jitterbug Perfume

Rude, irreverent, and pagan to its core, “Jitterbug Perfume” is the perfect escape from the mundane world. I first read this book in the early 1990s, and I really enjoyed its mythological themes. A few weeks ago I noticed it on my bookshelf again, and I realised that a dose of its gentle absurdity was just what I needed. This book, and many other titles by the author Tom Robbins, can still be found in bookshops, which indicates that many other readers also feel the need to acquaint (and reacquaint) themselves with his clever writing.

Jitterbug Perfume is the tale of King Alobar and his quest to evade death. Alobar makes it quite clear that he doesn’t fear death, he merely resents it! He says, “Everything must die, apparently, and I am no exception. But I want to be consulted. You know what I mean? Death is impatient and thoughtless. It barges into the room when you are right in the middle of something, and it doesn’t bother to wipe its boots.”

The other main character in this novel is the Horned God Pan. His entourage of nymphs make an appearance too. Tom Robbins is someone who obviously knows a great deal about the Old Ways, and although he writes about these subjects with a sharp sense of humour, he also does it with an eye for detail that leaves us in no doubt that he harbours an affinity for gods, metaphysics, divination, and spirituality. He’s also keen on vegetables. You’ll understand what I mean when you read the first page. And it’s obvious that he has a deep disdain for fundamentalism of any kind.

The writing style of Tom Robbins is unique. His books are filled with bizarre similes and playful descriptive prose that had me chuckling out loud as I was reading. And he often talks to the reader as he’s describing events that are unfolding, which feels a bit odd at first, but you soon get used to it.

If you are offended by sexual references (after all, this story features Pan!) or if you don’t like to have your way of thinking challenged by satire (and satyrs!) then read a Harry Potter book instead, but if you don’t mind some ribald reading material that is as mischievous as the Goat-footed God himself, then grab a copy of this book as soon as you can.

The last three words left me with a smile on my face, one that stayed with me long after the book was reluctantly closed. And when that smile did wear off, I was found hunting through my bookshelves for another Tom Robbins book, so that I could enjoy more of his wonderful wit and numinous nonsense.

***

Post Script: In my library I just found another Tom Robbins book called “Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas” and after a quick flick through it, I noticed that it was all about Tarot, frogs, and a monkey that happens to be a born-again Christian. I’m hooked already!

If Trees Could Speak

“The ancient, the young,

those teetering on the brink of death,
the tallest, the endangered -

they all have stories they could tell.”

The subtitle of this book is, “Stories of Australia’s Greatest Trees”, and this repository of knowledge about our most significant trees is a true gem. It was written by Bob Beale, a science and environment journalist with an impressive list of awards and credits attached to his name. Bob takes us on a journey across this beautiful continent, finding trees that act as memorials to significant events, or ones that are noteworthy for their own accomplishments in size or age.

Some trees are revered simply because they provided shelter and building materials for the earliest European settlers, while others inspired poets and artists, but all are indelibly linked to our heritage. Some of the historical trees that are mentioned in this book include The Tree of Knowledge (political site, Barcaldine, Qld), The Old Gum Tree (Proclamation site, Glenelg, SA), and The Dig Tree (Burke and Wills expedition, Qld). The world’s oldest, the tallest, the widest - descriptions and locations of these record holders are also lovingly detailed and photographed in this book.

Bob Beale’s environmentalist background reveals itself throughout this book, and is particularly evident in passages such as, “We should be more conscious that chainsaws, bulldozers and herbicides have given us a greater life-and-death power over our trees than at any previous time in history. They can do without us; we cannot live without them.”

His scientific nature is shown in the chapter on the Wollemi pine, where he gleefully recounts the tale behind the 1994 discovery of this species of conifer, which was thought to have become extinct millions of years ago. His infectious enthusiasm runs even more rampant when describing King’s Holly in Tasmania, the world’s oldest living tree, which is at least 43,000 years old! Some scientists suggest that it may even be 130,000 years of age, which means that it has survived the last ice age, and countless floods, fires and droughts.

The spiritual aspect of trees is also referenced in many chapters. This includes aboriginal lore that sees trees as heroes, demons, or watchful spirit figures. Aboriginal myths about the origins of certain trees are also told. In one chapter, trees that marked initiation sites are noted for their carvings of animal totems, the sun and the moon. Other trees are seen as pathways that were used by the sky-heroes to visit Earth during cultural ceremonies. Unlike many writers and anthropologists, Bob Beale observes this with reverence, emphasising the sacredness of such rites.

The relatively modern times of the 1800s have also seen some magical customs associated with Australian trees. In Sydney there was a Wishing Tree, at which young ladies were “performing certain rites to summon up the mystical spirits” that dwelt in the tree. Girls made a wish and circled around it “three times forwards then three times backwards.” At this site, there is now a statue of a female figure, which bears a plaque that reads, “I wish”, and visitors still place flowers there.

In the 1930s, in Melbourne’s Fitzroy Gardens, a tree was given special status as a Fairy Tree. In the stump of a tree, artist Ola Cohn carved and painted an assortment of native animals, surrounded by fey folk. Among the sculpted bats, kookaburras, lizards, spiders and kangaroos, are various fairies, pixies and elves. A hollowed area in the trunk has been filled with gifts of flowers. Letters to the fairies have also been left there by kids (big and small) detailing their wishes. Cohn said that this tree was, “for the fairies and those who believe in them, for they will understand how necessary it is to have a fairy sanctuary - a place that is sacred and safe...”

If you have an affinity for majestic trees, and a liking for quirky details, you’ll love this book. It’s exceptionally well-researched, skilfully written, and beautifully presented. It’s a pity that a better quality paper wasn’t used though. The photographs would have been stunning if they had been reproduced faithfully on glossy paper. As it is, this is well laid out and has a nicely designed feel to it, making it a lovely reference book, but it could easily have been a glorious coffee table book that you would have been proud to leave on display.

This is a brilliant book that links Australian trees to our history and spirituality. It will definitely change the way that you look at the trees in your own neighbourhood. If trees could speak, they’d say “Thank you Bob Beale, for listening to us, and for telling our stories.”

Author: Bob Beale
Published by: Allen & Unwin
ISBN: 9781741142761
Size: 19 x 25 cm, 245 pages
Price: AUD $39.95

High Magic 2

I have to confess - I haven’t read the original book “High Magic”, but I hear that its 422 pages covers nearly everything an aspiring occultist and ceremonial magician would want to know about the Magical Arts. So what could be better than that? Well, an advanced guide of course! This time Frater U. D. has given us another 464 pages on subjects such as Practical Mirror Magic, Sigils, Combat Magic, and Demonic Evocations.

This companion volume concludes a detailed exploration of Western and Eastern magical systems. In his section on yoga postures, mudras, and the chakras, he rightly suggests that many New Agers (and Pagans) only have an understanding of these topics from a Western perspective (derived from Theosophy) and they are totally unfamiliar with alternative systems. In this book he rectifies this thinking and explores the origins and practical applications of these areas.

Unlike many books on the Kabbalah, which only offer a philosophical viewpoint to this subject, Frater U...D... has written many chapters on the uses of the Kabbalah tradition in magical practices. These chapters detail the use of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life as a “supermatrix” and as a “cosmic structural scheme that both magicians and mystics alike can use to define and control every aspect of their lives.”

Another interesting chapter promotes Shamanism as “the mother of all magic”. It details shamanism from an historical context; it looks at life from a shamanistic point of view; and it examines the way shamans manipulate energies and spirits.

A strange but interesting inclusion in this book is the information on Magical Orders. The author traces the spurious history and evolution of organisations such as The Rosicrucians and The Golden Dawn. As the author points out, “It’s one of the typical characteristics of dogmatic magic that great value is placed on legitimacy through an old tradition that can be proved in one way or another. Many dogmatists still believe that old is the same as true.” The author suggests though, that despite reconstructing and inventing much of their magical practices, various magical orders also provided a significant contribution to the world of the Magical Arts. I guess these chapters help to eliminate any unsubstantiated and glorified views of occultists and their organisations, and they provide more of an incentive to the individual to concentrate on developing power from their own personal experiences.

Even if you are not into the Kabbalah or Demonology, there are still many chapters to intrigue and excite the everyday reader of esoteric literature. The sections on The Magic of Ancient Egypt and the Late Classical Hellenistic Period describes these eras as the “original sources of all Western invocational magic,” and Frater U...D... gives examples of the many modern magical terms that derive from these ancient times.

Initiation is another area that is explored in this book. I like the author’s ideas concerning “how to recognise an initiate” and the difference between active initiation, and initiation through revelation. His explanation of the dependence that can result from the latter is also fascinating. But if you want to know all about that, then you’ll have to buy the book!

This book is worth buying, even if you have not previously explored Ceremonial Magic. Don’t be put off by the title, there are plenty of useful exercises and examples that will give you a taste of what High Magic all about. And even then, if you feel that this sort of magic is not your style, you’ll still find lots of techniques and experiments that will be of benefit to your own magical practices, regardless of the path that you follow.

Author: Frater U. D.
Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide
ISBN: 978-0-7387-1063-1

Haunted Earth

Peter Read is a Canberra based social scientist, and this is his third book that is devoted to the search for the existence and meaning of spirit forces in Australia. Peter interviews Australians from various spiritual backgrounds, from Witches to Buddhists, investigating their perspective of sacred space, and the circumstances in which ghosts make an appearance.

Peter wanders all over Australia, wandering around graveyards at midnight, visiting hospitals in NSW, and walking the CBD of Darwin which, he says, “holds many ghosts”.

I must admit that I was a bit bored by the book until I was about half way through, when the author began describing some of his meetings with Wiccans. He began this section by discussing the implications of having Buddhist and Hindu shrines in areas that were previously regarded as Aboriginal lands, and Peter artfully led this into the problems that witches have in imbuing their rituals with Southern Hemisphere relevance. The author had obviously done his homework regarding Wiccan practices, and spoke with some respected witches regarding their views on this subject.

The other redeeming feature of this book is some brief, distinctly Australian poems in the Japanese form of the haiku. They are exquisite examples of appreciating the moment – living with an acute awareness of the natural beauty that surrounds us.

“Mist-pockets, boulders, a magpie.
The glory of iron sheeting, rusty, corrugated.
Seen through the morning sunshine.”

“Walking all morning, Seeing nothing.
Sitting by the dam.
Hearing the wind.”

poetry by - Mark Elvin

This book explores the “inspirited” landscape that is Australia, interviewing those who were willing to talk about their “special” places. Peter Read writes about the “sacred” experiences of people from various cultures, and he details events such as the summoning of a Chinese ancestor spirit, an exorcism, and the appearance of restless ghosts from our indigenous past.

Author: Peter Read
Published by: UNSW Press

The Enchanted Oracle

When I think of magickal, gothic art that features moody deities, and other enchanted beings, I think of Jessica Galbreth’s stunning paintings.

I’ve been meaning to purchase some her artwork for some time, but now we are blessed with an opportunity to obtain some of her most beautiful images in the form of an oracle deck! The Enchanted Oracle is a book and card set that can be used for meditation, fortune telling, or communication with deity. This 36 card set contains Jessica’s favourite pieces of artwork, and some that were created specifically for this project. Each watercolour image took about a week to complete, and they are filled with symbolism and a powerful essence that is hard to define.

Some of the card’s titles are: Mother Earth, Night Queen, Green Woman, White Magick, Gothique, Temptation, Spirit of Samhain, Lavender Moon, Dragon Witch, and Autumn Splendour. All of the cards are seriously sensuous, and they express the dark beauty of the inner search that leads to enlightenment.

The book (240 pages) is an integral part of this divinatory system. Apart from giving an eloquent description of each card, we are also shown an oracular message for that image, and then there’s a suggested exercise (spell, meditation, or ritual) that can be done to enhance our lives.

Apart from the cards and book, this oracle set contains a silver bag for the cards, and a pendant that can be used as a charm or pendulum.

Barbara Moore tells us that in this book: “You will find answers. You will find guidance. You will find possibilities. You will find the goddess, fairy, and sorceress within yourself.” And I don’t doubt that for a second! I can see that this insightful oracle will make an appearance during many of my future rituals and pagan celebrations.

Artist: Jessica Galbreth
Author: Barbara Moore
Published by: Llewellyn Worldwide

Earth Power

“The real mysteries of magic are those of nature. In practicing these spells one touches nature, and in this work anyone can discover the secrets. Nature, the Earth, the Universe, are the great initiators. It is to these that we must look for help in opening our eyes to see what has been there all along.”

If the title “Earth Power” seems familiar, it’s because this is not a new book – Llewellyn have reissued this popular Scott Cunningham book, which was first published in 1983.

The good thing about this new version is that it has an updated biography of the author inside the cover, but I was disappointed to find that the stunning artwork by Robin Wood (that featured so heavily in past editions) has not been included in this one.

For many years, this book has been a trusted guide to those who are interested in the principles of magic – especially that of folk magic! For this is a book that focuses on enchantments from simpler times, from those days of old when religion, magic, and the elements were an integral part of people’s daily lives. It’s a book of spells that uses rivers and sea, sun and moon, storms and rain!

As Cunningham says, “...the ways of magic are revealed to those who work with the forces of nature. The secrets are written in meandering streams and drifting clouds; they are whispered by the roaring ocean and cooling breeze; they echo in caves and rocks and forests.”

Any book with a chapter on tree magic soon becomes a firm favourite of mine, and this one has a section on tree spells, tree divination, their healing energies and magical properties too.

As with all Cunningham books, the author encourages the reader to experiment with invocations, spell workings and divination - he doesn’t proclaim that you have to do things a certain way or else you will be struck by 9 bolts of lightning and then laughed at by the gods!

Making magic in harmony with nature, is the message of this book, and the true essence of magic is contained within its pages. Like any of the other Scott Cunningham titles, this one is especially recommended for newcomers, but those with plenty of experience behind them may also enjoy looking at Earth Power again, as they’ll rediscover some fundamental concepts that are sometimes overlooked.

Publisher: Llewellyn
ISBN: 0-87542-121-0

Divining Earth Spirit

Australian author Alanna Moore’s revised and updated edition of Divining Earth Spirit is crammed full of interesting chapters on Geomancy (earth energies) and environmental awareness. It is the most comprehensive reference book of its kind. The author has been involved in dowsing for more than twenty years, and she is an acknowledged expert in this specialised field of research.

The book begins with earth studies from eastern and western cultural views: Feng Shui, stone circles, labyrinths, and scientific studies on crop circles are all explained from the Geomancer’s perspective.

Following this are chapters on Australian geomancy, and not surprisingly, the earth centred spirituality of the indigenous inhabitants is a major focal point of this section. The Dreaming stories of the Flinders Ranges are discussed, and the Hindmarsh Island bridge controversy gets a mention. Also included is a chapter on the earth energies in Yankalilla, SA. It turns out that the Anglican church in that town (yes, the one with the salt damp that looks like some well known religious figures) was built over a desecrated aboriginal sacred site!

Geopathic stress is the main concern of another section. This is about underground streams and their effect on health and mental alertness. The paragraphs on the dowsing of ‘black spots’ on roads was particularly interesting, with dowsers installing neutralisation devices in problem areas and finding that accident rates were cut ‘from 32 over two years, to just one accident in one year.’

Other chapters in this book help you to discover the Devic dimensions (nature spirits). There’s a great chapter on the Green Man, a symbol that is featured on many medieval churches, representing our connection with nature. The Greek god Pan also has a chapter devoted to him, and Alanna spends some time describing dowsing for Pan in various locations all over the world, and she relates the ‘electrifying experience’ of meeting him during meditations.

Many famous geomancers were interviewed for Divining Earth Spirit, and they told of their specific fields of interest and gave interesting case histories. They explained their methods of interaction with the environment, ranging from sites at Glastonbury Tor to Alice Springs.

My only gripe about the book is the amount of space given to the ‘visions’ received by various clairvoyants in and around sacred sites. Most are unsubstantiated by experiences from anybody else. Does anybody really want to know about the lady who camped in a stone circle and saw a ten foot high elf called Asulan, who promised to help her look for her lost dog? I certainly don’t!

With a healthy respect for pagan traditions, and an awareness of deity and sacred space, Alanna Moore’s Divining Earth Spirit is an insight to a different method of reverence and appreciation for the Earth Mother. Alanna says that the reason she wrote this book is to ‘take you on a journey through doors of perception which are both ancient and new to many. I want you to hear the voices of many in relation to Earth energy awareness and healing. And I’d like you to consider that we all have the potential to be able to divine Earth spirit, and that it is high time that its significance be acknowledged and nurtured.’ Her book fulfils all of this and more!

This is a valuable reference book for anyone with an interest in sacred sites and the world’s subtle energy fields. And it has opened my eyes to the variety of earth energies that one can explore through geomancy – thank you Alanna!

Author: Alanna Moore
Published by: Python Press
RRP: $38
Available from: Geomantica, PO Box 929, Castlemaine, Victoria, 3450
Website: www.geomantica.com

Celebrating the Pagan Soul

Pagans are a diverse lot. Our magical and spiritual experiences have been the result of training, experimentation, luck, and perhaps the will of the gods. The way that we have found our path has also come about through varied means, and yet we have all sensed the ‘rightness’ of it in our hearts when we finally acknowledged who and what we are. The essence of this voyage of personal discovery is the basis of the book ‘Celebrating the Pagan Soul’. Actually, it’s not a book in the normal sense, it’s a collection of 66 essays from many writers, with themes that include community, magic, divinity and the cycles of life.

As the title suggests, it’s a book that celebrates Paganism, giving us a voyeuristic glimpse into the private thoughts and lives of Pagans across the world. The editor also saw this volume as an opportunity to record memories of those teachers who helped shape the beginning of the Neo-Pagan movement, and to record the prejudice and intolerance that Pagans have sometimes faced as we strived for acceptance.

‘Celebrating the Pagan Soul’ is a book that everyone can learn from, no matter how new or advanced they are along the Pagan path. It’s an anthology of thoughts from the elders of our communities. Gardnerian High Priestess Laura Wildman has brought together a wonderful assortment of writers from the USA, the UK, and Australia too. Some of the big names involved in this project include: Starhawk, Margot Adler, Macha NightMare, Francesca De Grandis, Fredric Lamond, Patricia Monaghan, Barbara Ardinger, and Oberon Zell-RavenHeart. Prominent Australian writers Caroline Tully and Douglas Ezzy contributed quite moving stories, and although I might be biased, I’d say that their essays were amongst the best in the book.

Caroline’s name will be familiar to readers of Witchcraft Magazine and Pagan Times. Her story is a very personal account of the Goddess visions that she received during a dangerous and difficult birthing process, and the omens that she saw during her next ill-fated pregnancy. It’s a sad, but thought provoking article to remind us that ‘deities can take as well as give.’

Douglas Ezzy, a senior lecturer in Sociology, has written about his local patch of Tasmanian landscape... ‘the rhythm of the waves echoing to the cliff tops; the depth of the ocean along her borders; the temperamentality of the weather’s moods; the harsh cruelty of death by fire and drought; the dark quietness of her valley; the warm embrace of her folds; and the sweet fecund scent of rotting plant matter. She is an intimate friend to me...’ It’s a beautifully crafted essay about reverence for nature and the land - a contemplative meandering along the body of the goddess.

This book also shows that we Pagans don’t mind seeing the humorous side of our spirituality – this is evident from chapter titles such as: What to Do with a Dead Husband; How I Ignored Common Sense and Backed into the Morrigan; and the story of a ‘City Pagan’, who never managed to develop ‘a healthy appreciation for being outdoors.’

‘Celebrating the Pagan Soul’ is often inspirational, sometimes funny, but it also contains many touching personal stories as well. As the editor mentions in her introduction, ‘The wheel of life contains moments of tragedy and loss as well as joy.’

I was surprised at the level of honesty and openness of the writers who contributed to this book. Their musings were often filled with the sense of wonder and discovery that echoed my own journey. At times the authors delved into the same fears that have dragged me into the depths of the Underworld, but at other times they joyfully described the bliss that I too have found along the way. This book helps us to realise that we are not alone in our initial doubts of whether we will fit in; that we all mistakes; and that we’re not the only ones to have been dazzled by the effectiveness of magic that has come thundering back to us when we’ve stood between the worlds, invoking changes into our lives.

This is not the sort of book that will be lost at the back of your bookshelves. You will want to keep it nearby, so that you can read it again and again. Its short chapters are perfect for those moments when you only have a few moments of reading time available, but I bet you’ll find that you won’t be able to put it down!

Celebrating the Pagan Soul: Our Own Stories of Inspiration and Community
Edited and compiled by Laura Wildman
Published by Citadel Press, New York, 2005.
Paperback. 254 pages.
Australian RRP: $25
ISBN: 0-8065-2624-6
Available in Australia from Caroline Tully, PO Box 1206, Windsor, Victoria, 3181
Email Caroline: heliade@bigpond.com

Animism

“...there is an everyday, taken-for-granted obviousness about animism. How could this not be the case when that which is alive is the rock you are holding or standing on, the animal you are hunting, the cloud that waters the corn you are tending, or the tree you are sheltering beneath?”

Graham Harvey’s interest in animism arose while researching his previous book, Listening People, Speaking Earth. In this one, he delves into the nature of animism (excuse the pun); historical examples; and the ethical dilemmas of being an animist in today’s world.

The first part of this book is spent attempting to define ‘animism’. The previously used term of ‘a belief in spirits’ was thrown aside, and new definitions were introduced. According to Graham Harvey, “Animists are people who recognise that the world is full of persons, only some of whom are human, and that life is always lived in relationship with others.” He also states “...not all animists agree that everything that exists is alive or personal.” But there does seem to be a consensus that Animism is directly linked with indigenous and environmental spiritualities, and is about “how to be a good person in respectful relationships with other persons.”

After explaining his reasons for writing the book, the remaining part of this first section is an academic treatise that compares ‘primitive’ animism with anthropomorphism, panpsychism and epistemology. The rest of the book looks at interesting case studies - the seasonal stories of the Ojibwe tribes of North America; Maori pendants; expressions of The Dreaming in Alice Springs; Eco-Paganism and activism - and then he explores the implications and ramifications of animism.

In these 248 pages (of fairly small print) Harvey also manages to explore the role of shamans, deities, totems and cannibals in animist cultures and communities. Even though Animism is fairly heavy reading, with most of it being textbook style, humour is slipped in occasionally to keep you turning the pages. There’s many quirky headings such as “Gods, Fairies and Hedgehogs” and “Animals Are People Too”. It’s also a philosophical book, and it makes you think about the broad range of topics that can be covered under the term ‘Paganism’, and the way in which today’s Paganism is far removed from its roots.

Along with Sir James Frazer’s The Golden Bough, this is essential reading for those who are interested in anthropology and the source of Pagan principles and practices. In this book, we get to see animism as a vitally present way of life – a way of being that is life-affirming and respectful, and in Harvey’s own words, animism does this “with grace and beauty.”


Author: Graham Harvey
Published by: Wakefield Press, 2005
ISBN: 1-86254-678-9

21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card

If you are not a good tarot reader by the time that you’ve finished this book, then you should have chosen to learn a different form of divination. Because if you had followed the steps involved in Mary K Greer’s hefty book (over 300 pages) and you still can’t tell a fool from a Fool, then you must have cheated yourself and the author by simply reading through “21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card”, instead of treating it as a workbook.

Within each of the 21 specified ways to read the tarot, there are (on average) about four activities that must be worked through, in order to gain the best understanding of each card. If my maths is any good, that means that there are 84 exercises to do, and if you did these with each of the 78 tarot cards, you would have undertaken about 6,552 activities by the time that you had worked your way through the tarot deck. If that didn’t make you an expert on tarot, then you should give up straight away and take up the reading of animal entrails instead!

Mary calls her 21 methods a “bag of tricks for evoking deep awareness and personal wisdom,” and after 40 years in the tarot business, I’m sure that she knows a thing or two about the right techniques for eliciting the significance of a card’s meaning. And as Mary explains in the preface, “By approaching a single card from many different perspectives, you learn things about both the card and yourself that you could not learn in any other way.” From this approach and from your personal interaction with each card, you’ll discover your personal card reading style, and you will learn so much more about tarot than from simply reading someone else’s interpretations of the cards.

Even experienced tarot readers can sometimes find themselves using only the traditional meanings for certain cards, so the big advantage that this book offers is that it stretches your awareness and unlocks new possibilities within a reading. The exercises in this book can help the tarot cards to ‘come alive’ in your mind, and the characters in the images become multidimensional beings. Some of the learning techniques that are suggested involve: sketching the cards to find all the details that are sometimes overlooked; storytelling; and having dialogues with the characters in the cards.

The author has a very grounded approach to tarot, as shown in the following statement, “It’s often assumed that the answers are in the cards and that we, as readers, should point them out. But whose answers? And what if there are no answers in the cards, only questions? My philosophy is that there are usually multiple responses to any question and that all the answers lie within the person seeking them.” I was also impressed with the section on Traps and Solutions, where Mary Greer has identified and overcome the ways in which tarot readers can get stuck within a reading.

I found the book to be worthwhile and I’d highly recommend this method of learning. This is the book that I wish had been available when I bought my first pack of tarot cards, as I would have a much better understanding of them if I’d used these 21 steps to learn each card. Perhaps it’s not too late though.... perhaps it’s time to dust off my tarot deck and have another look at them!

Published by: Llewellyn, 2006