Free Tarot E-book

Like a free e-book about Tarot?

On my new Tarot Blog www.mistertarot.com I have a free digital book called, “Ten Reasons Why People Find it Hard to Learn Tarot – and How You Can Overcome ALL of Them!”

It’s amazing how many people tell me that they’ve had Tarot cards for years, but they’ve never felt confident doing readings.

This e-book reveals the ten most common reasons why people struggle to learn how to read Tarot cards — and it outlines specific techniques for bypassing those problem areas.

I hear you asking, “Why is it free? What’s the catch?”

In order to download this book, you are asked for your email address, so that I can send you the password for the book’s download. By storing your email address on my system, it means I can keep in touch with you occasionally – when I have some important Tarot updates, or invitations to Tarot events, or something else to give away.

But don’t worry, I won’t be sending you spam or nuisance emails, just occasional Tarot information, so you can keep in touch with the latest Tarot news. And you can unsubscribe at any time!

So go to http://www.mistertarot.com/ and click the link and follow the prompts and you’ll have your free Tarot e-book on your computer in a matter of seconds!

Tarot Blessings,
Mister Tarot

Real Tarot

“The soul thinks in images”, Aristotle said and it is through the understanding of these images, or symbols, that the wisdom of the subconscious mind can be assessed. While the tarot provides us with a way of transferring this wisdom into our everyday consciousness, many people shy away from learning how to use these cards, believing that it is a tool only to be used by the “psychic” or specially gifted. Don McLeod however disagrees.

Having studied the tarot for over 25 years, Don McLeod has written an exciting, informative, yet easy to follow, guide to learning the tarot. From the outset, “Real Tarot” engages the reader by exposing techniques as how to identify the picture keys contained within each card, how to use one’s own intuition to expand upon these keys, and most importantly, he encourages the reader to trust their own interpretation and intuition.

Using the classic Rider Waite deck, “Real Tarot” contains invaluable information and provides an in-depth insight into the symbolism of each card in a straightforward manner without confusing the reader with too much information. By openly sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience with respect to the tarot in a friendly, down to earth manner, Don McLeod offers what feels like personal instruction that benefits both the beginner and the more experienced student alike.

The techniques taught within “Real Tarot” allow the reader to easily access, interpret and understand the wisdom contained within the tarot, making this book a “must have” for anyone interested in learning the tarot or expanding upon their own understanding.

Reviewed by Frances Billinghurst

Frances Billinghurst has been a student of metaphysics, Hermetics, Goddess spirituality and the occult arts for most of her adult life. An initiate of the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca, she founded the Temple of the Dark Moon in 1999. Frances is a regular contributor to Australia's Insight magazine and was published in the 2008 Llewellyn Witch’s Calendar. Frances can be contacted through: www.templedarkmoon.com

To learn more about this book, see: http://www.mistertarot.com/

Rachel Pollack's Tarot Wisdom

“The application to Tarot is clear.
It offers us a great gift, a way to understand the wonders of life,
a form of guidance when events or our own souls trouble us.
To receive that gift, we must open ourselves -
not just emotionally, but also conceptually.” R Pollack

Rachel Pollack has written over a dozen books on the subject of Tarot, including the classic guidebook Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom, so I expected to be impressed with her latest offering. But I didn’t expect to be so surprised, delighted and awed by it!

Since publishing Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom, Rachel has spent the last three decades exploring the deeper aspects of the cards, and this book overflows with insights and esoteric knowledge.

Actually, the term “book” doesn’t do it justice, this is more like a manual of cartomancy - one that seamlessly blends Kabbalistic and Pythagorean concepts with astrology, fairy tales and grail legends. It was an ambitious undertaking, but one that is unequalled in its scope and brilliance.

Tarot Wisdom will transform the way that you look at each and every card. It’s a fresh approach to a fascinating subject, and no serious student of Tarot should be without it.

Author: Rachel Pollack
Published by: Llewellyn
ISBN: 978-0-7387-1309-0

Meeting Fairies: a true story

Robert Ogilvie Crombie (known as Roc to his friends) strolled through the Royal Botanic Gardens of Edinburgh in 1966 and made an astonishing discovery. ‘I saw a figure dancing around a tree about twenty yards from me - a beautiful little figure about three feet tall...it was a faun, the Greek mythological being, half human, half animal. He had a pointed chin and ears and two little horns on his forehead. His shaggy legs ended in cloven hooves and his skin was honey-coloured.’

The faun’s name was Kurmos, and according to Roc, he had an ‘infinite, mature wisdom - combined with the naiveté of a child.’ During their conversation, Kurmos stated that many of the nature spirits had lost interest in humans because they had been made to feel they were, ‘neither believed in nor wanted.’ One month later, in a nearby street, Roc felt the presence of Pan, the god of the fields and countryside, who was ‘radiating a tremendous power’ and who smelt of ‘pine woods, damp leaves, of newly turned earth and of woodland flowers.’ Roc’s meetings with Pan became more frequent and each visit led to a deeper understanding of the Horned God’s personality.

During one of Roc’s walks, ‘the woods became alive with myriad beings - elementals, nymphs, dryads, fauns, elves, fairies and so on.’ Most of Roc’s encounters in this book relate to these nature spirits, so the title could just as easily have been called ‘Meeting Elementals and the Pagan Gods’!

Apart from the nature spirits mentioned earlier, Roc also met and interacted with fire and water spirits, sylphs, gnomes, goblins, imps, and even the Elf King! And regarding all of these creatures, Roc wanted it known that they were not the ‘cutesy and delightful fairies’ of children’s stories, but ‘vastly powerful beings’.

Roc is described by one of his friends as ‘a loving man who carried the presence of the invisible worlds with him like a cloak.’ From his writings he seems to be fully aware of the elemental realms, while maintaining an analytical and questioning mind from his scientific career. Although his Christian background influenced his understanding of the Otherworlds, his training in Hermetic Magic helped him to work with the subtle energies in which he found himself immersed.

Mike Scott, lead singer of The Waterboys, wrote the prologue for this book. Mike was born in Edinburgh and is famous for songs with magical themes, including gems such as, Pan Within, A Pagan Place, The Whole of the Moon, and Return of Pan. He now lives in Findhorn, Scotland. Most of the chapters in this book reflect the mystical theme of Roc’s spiritual encounters, for example there are titles like, Magic on Midsummer Eve, The Wild Garden, Pan’s World, and Enchantments of Autumn.

Meeting Fairies was designed to look like a hard cover book of fairy tales from the olden days. It is delightfully illustrated by Elise Hurst, and the text was compiled by Maggie Hamilton, Allen & Unwin’s Inspired Living publisher.

In Roc’s own words, the underlying message of this book is: ‘The nature spirits must be believed in with complete sincerity and faith. They must be appreciated and given thanks and love for the work they do. Let us try in our own ways to make friends with these wonderful beings and ask their help in making earth a beautiful and perfect place.’

Author: R. Ogilvie Crombie
Published by: Allen & Unwin (Inspired Living)
ISBN: 9781741759907
RRP: AUD $29.95 (hardback)

Mystic Medusa's Astroscape 2010

Mystic Medusa is a Sydney-based astrologer who has a witty column in the Weekend Australian newspaper, and the monthly In Style magazine. According to her, 2010 is going to be the year of the Suave Individualist, where you get to explore your leadership potential. It’s a year filled with some stunning and powerful astrological alignments.

Chapters in this helpful book include: Moon Mastery, How Not to Let Mercury Retrograde Send You Mental, and of course, there’s a detailed section showing you when to expect romance, more money and that new job opportunity you have been waiting for.

When I turned to the calendar for my sign (Cancer) I found that an amazing year is lined up for me! Apart from the travel (the week of departure was predicted correctly) a new philosophy will realign my life and revolutionise my everyday reality. Great! But then I looked at the other zodiac signs and realised that everyone is in for a fantastic year. Maybe us Cancerians are not so special after all.

Aries will be the beneficiaries of spiritual breakthroughs. Taurus will have an expansive social life and is ultra-lucky this year. Gemini will be sparkling and unsinkable. Leo scores undreamt-of sex, power & money rewards with decadent, mystical love as well! Virgo may have been struggling a bit for the past twelve years, but now she enters a lucky phase for true love. Libra has a sensationally thrilling time ahead. Scorpio becomes mentally, physically and financially fertile. Sagittarius will have good fortune in real estate and domestic areas. Capricorn begins a 14 year cycle that revamps life in unprecedented ways. Aquarius can expect a status upgrade due to a financial boon. And Pisces has ‘a cosmic dollop of fab luck & opportunities’ with the ‘luckiest year in yonks’!

Maybe Mystic Medusa just wants us all to be fired up and enthusiastic about the changes ahead. Or maybe the planetary conjunctions are just especially favourable this year. I choose to believe the latter possibility.

On the plus side, the book is enjoyable to read, and gives useful tips for dealing with that nuisance called Mercury Retrograde. We get four lots of Mercury Retrograde this year, but it’s not all bad news. Apart from possibly having problems with computers, gadgets, and anything related to communication, we’re told it can be a good time for a wilderness retreat, for reading trashy novels, or for doing ancestor worship! Mystic Medusa also has some great ideas for worthwhile activities for when the moon is in certain signs. For example, when the moon is in Cancer, take naps, bake scones, get a boob check, drink gin and tonic while listening to country music, and reread a favourite book from your childhood.

On the negative side, the overuse of the quirky vocab gets tiresome. It doesn’t take long to become bored with terms like, administrivia, peeps, crappo, shitzone, and festering merde - especially when you consider that most of the above words turned up in one page! And my other complaint is that the pages of my copy have started falling out already. Hopefully that was just a production error that occurred during the printing of my book.

This pocket-sized volume of astro-lore and prediction is an entertaining way to find out about the year ahead, and while you are giggling at Mystic Medusa’s humorous way of expressing herself, you’ll find yourself being educated about astrological terms and trends at the same time. Obviously, seeing a real astrologer and getting a chart specifically designed for you would be the best way to get accurate advice, but the pages of Mystic Medusa’s book will give you an inkling of what’s likely to happen in the coming year.

Author: Mystic Medusa
Published by: Allen & Unwin
ISBN: 9781741759068
RRP: AUD $22.99

The Wisdom of Water

Don’t bother asking if you can borrow this book from me. I’m selfishly keeping it nearby so that I can savour the knowledge that has come from the author’s years of research and contemplation on the subject of our most precious resource - water.

Since 1990, Australian author (John Archer) has been obsessed with water in all its forms and manifestations. He obviously has a deep respect for this life-giving element that so many people take for granted. In this book he explores the environmental implications, health aspects, and spiritual dimensions of water. John’s journey has led him on pilgrimages to holy wells, to remote temples where water is worshipped as a living deity, to hot volcanic springs and icy waterfalls. In The Wisdom of Water (his 21st book) he has detailed the stories and myths connected to this precious element.

It’s a collection of legends, scientific data, poems, Zen parables, rituals and personal observations, in which he has, “listened to the rhythms of the waves on the shore, to the sound patterns of lakes, small streams and majestic rivers. Watching the fluid reflections of the sun, moon and stars in the eternal moving mirror of the waters I have merged my consciousness with that of the infinite.”

Although this is an extremely well-researched, scholarly work, it doesn’t try to be too academic; it’s quite readable and easily digested. John Archer has (literally) immersed himself in this subject with great passion. And the author suggests that this is not a book to be hurried through, he asks that the reader takes time to think about the messages contained herein, so that you can “look up at the clouds with new eyes and hear the voice of waterfalls and ocean waves...”

This book is simply brilliant. It covers every facet of water that you can imagine: dew, rain, hail, rainbows, ice, snow, rivers, lakes, springs, waterfalls, and the ocean too. Within each of these areas you will find references to nymphs, gods and goddesses, trivia, and folklore.

This has been one of the most poignant, informative and insightful books that I have ever read. If you want a deeper understanding of this element, you simply must buy this book. But don’t lend it to anyone, because you won’t get it back!


Published by: Allen & Unwin
Author: John Archer
ISBN: 978-1-74175-239-7

Craft of the Wild Witch – Green Spirituality and Natural Enchantment

Poppy Palin is a talented writer whose words take you on an evocative, lyrical journey into the ways of the wild witch. Every paragraph is rich with expression. ‘Craft of the Wild Witch’ is a book about the basics of Natural Witchcraft, but Poppy’s way of weaving eloquence amongst her lessons is an enchantment in itself. This makes it a learning experience that is a joy to read as well!

What is wild witchcraft? According to Poppy Palin it is, ‘witchcraft for those of us who yearn to express our own inherent spirituality in a joyous, meaningful manner, not within temples or churches, but out in the landscape and within the deepest fathomless places in our own souls... places that echo the furthest reaches of the starry-veiled cosmos.’ And... ‘The essential message of wild witchcraft is found under cinnamon leaves, where the bright scales of hidden creatures shine, found in the fronds of glistening weeds swaying in brackish depths, in the swell and surge of massing thunderheads, and in the dazzling sparkles of sunlight dancing on a summer sea, there is beauty, magic, and meaning in the world if we only try to find it.’ To put it simply, if you want to be a wild witch, then be prepared to live that lifestyle every hour of every day - it’s not something that you do (or become) on full moons and Sabbats only!

It is a book that focuses on the positive side of being a Solitary Practitioner. Being a wild witch is a path for individuals who feel the ebb and flow of the seasons, and who connect with the unseen realms around them and within them. This is a well rounded book that delves into the realms of the fey spirits, and is balanced by chapters that reinforce the notion of being responsible and practical in your magickal workings.

Rather than directing us to only look at the world around us, many parts of this book steer us toward an understanding of our own nature first and foremost. And as she says in her preface, ‘The understanding of our true soul nature will come as unexpectedly as the warmth to be found in midwinter sunlight, as tenacious as the twisted tree that blooms and grows despite its exposed position, as moving and awe-inspiring as the sound of a single swan’s wing-beats that are heard as it makes its way home alone across the moors.’ Many pages are devoted to gaining an understanding of our own soul nature, and our inner qualities, though self analysis.

Trance journeys to otherworldly places are also undertaken in this book. The purpose of these meditations is to converse with spirit companions, and to find inspiration and information relating to the craft of the wild witch. Familiars, rogue spirits, thoughtforms (intentional and unintentional), and animal spirit helpers are other forms of entities that may be met during trance journeys, and the nature of all of these beings are fully explained. Personal safety through effective preparation, and the use of psychic protection during these trance sessions, are other areas that are comprehensively covered over a number of chapters.

This is a large book in many ways, it is over 300 pages in length, and it covers many aspects of the earthy, practical paganism that most books on Wicca tend to ignore. We are shown the value of deep meditations, which can be used to connect to the knowledge stored within various realms (spirit and plant alike), and we are encouraged to seek the fullness that seemingly mundane situations can offer. As Poppy says, ‘each apparently average moment has magical potential within it.’

I liked the fact that many pages were devoted to the essence of witchcraft, where the author impressed upon the reader the value and necessity of core factors such as observation (of the natural world, omens, and the effect that the different seasons have upon us); visualisation techniques; commitment; etc. These fundamental principles are the basis of effective magical workings, but they are also the most likely things to be glossed over in other books of this sort.

The chapters in this book are full of wild wisdom for beginners on the path, and for experienced pagans who want to look at their spirituality from a different point of view. Poppy’s reverence for nature and the cycles of the natural world are obvious. Her world seems to be one of complete trust in the natural order of things, viewed with a keen eye for detail and the beauty therein. And fortunately for us, she is able to communicate the essence of this optimism to us in a poetic and inspirational way. I loved this book, and if seeing the world from a fresh, new perspective appeals to you, and if you like the idea of literary lushness seeping deep into your soul as you read, then you will love this magical book too.

Author: Poppy Palin
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications 2004

Tarot of Perfection

Ah, Tarot - an adventure that offers so many paths to explore, and so many ways to enjoy its layers of meaning. Rachel Pollack has taken this to a new level though. She is well known for her guidebooks to these cards, but in The Tarot of Perfection, she takes us on an extraordinary journey through fictional worlds that relate (in some way or another) to Tarot.

Like the Tarot itself, these tales weave in and out of each other, linking threads of images and characters, yet retaining their own energies. The stories are based on characters or scenes from the Tarot, or they involve Tarot readers, or some form of divination, or the gods themselves. They are a blend of allegory, fantasy, and deep imagery that affects the mind and soul. Some of the clever titles include: The Pickpocket’s Destiny, The Souls in the Trees, and Simon Wisdom.

It’s hard to describe these stories, as they sometimes seem like “normal” fiction, but then they divert into realms of fantasy and magic. In essence, I guess they are fairy tales, and like fables of old, this book contains exquisite black and white line drawings to illustrate the text.

Placing the cards into the context of these stories gives them so much more meaning than their traditional interpretations. An example of this is can be found in the first story, where the Ten of Wands is described in the following way: “Look there, he thought, the man with ten sticks on his back, each one with leaves of fire, though none of them burned. No doubt the woman would have seen in this a prediction of “burdens,” or “hard work ahead,” and completely miss the truth, that the sticks extended from the Great Tree, that itself grew out of the Radiant Jewels of Creation. And what was the man but a sacred messenger, assigned to extend the jewels into the abandoned dross of the physical world? What holiness!” I’m sure that when certain cards turn up in my next reading, I’ll be relating them back to these imaginative tales that are full of sorcerers and initiates, ghosts and squirrels!

Even the Outback of Australia gets a mention amongst these stories: “He finally came to a place he thought of as the end of the world, a giant rock on a flat red desert. There were paintings on the rock, circles and lines and spirals and dots, so old even Matyas couldn’t decipher them. He closed his eyes to try to speak to the elementals in the rock. All he could hear was a rumble that might have been thunder. When he looked again he discovered himself surrounded by men and women. They were naked, but covered in paintings and scars. Daubs of color, jagged lines, angular boxes and concentric circles formed some kind of code... He stared at them, not at their faces but at the paint. Suddenly he understood. The lines and blotches were the history of the earth, their chant the song the world sang to itself when it first awoke.”

As Mary K. Greer acknowledges on the back cover, “These mystical, magical travel tales show us that it’s the journey itself that really counts. They will change forever how you see destiny, indeed, all the mysteries.” This one’s for lovers of Tarot and all things magickal.

ISBN: 1-90557209-3
Published by: Magic Realist Press
See: www.magic-realist.com (if only to check out the graphic novel called Shadow of the Vampuss - a tale of “the supernatural, vampirism, Transylvania, and kitty cats.”)

Whispers from the Woods – the Lore and Magic of Trees

Sandra Kynes tells us, “Trees provide a gateway into a wider world of spirit and magic.” In this book we learn about a variety of trees and the many ways in which we can use their magical properties. But this is much more than an arboreal spell book! In Whispers from the Woods we are shown how the energy of trees can take us on an exploration of timeless mysteries, spirituality, and life itself.

Apart from chapters on Shamanic Journeys, rituals, and meditation with the trees, we also learn about Tree Calendars and the Celtic Ogham. Then we look at the links between sacred trees, holy springs and Celtic legends. And of course, no pagan tree book would be complete without a section on the Green Man!

Folklore and descriptions of fifty trees are given. It is suggested that by connecting with them, we can find ourselves living more closely to the rhythms and spirit of the land. And from this we can access different levels of awareness, bringing deeper spiritual satisfaction into our lives. Even the humble Bamboo gets a mention... I didn’t realise Bamboo was regarded as a tree, but evidently it can reach heights of over 30 metres, and is revered in many Asian cultures.

Sandra Kynes tells us, “The forest was a place of beautiful mystery and deep transformation. People could sense the subtle energy that moved through the trees, because it also moved through them. The connection between humans and the green world was real and central to everyday life, but somewhere along the way we lost this sense of connection.” Reading this book will inspire you to make the effort to take that walk in the woods that you have been promising yourself. It will rekindle your desire to spend more time in nature, and you’ll look at trees in a new light.

The author is a member of the England-based Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. Her previous book, A Year of Ritual, was also published by Llewellyn. With Whispers from the Woods she helps pagans to rediscover the majesty of trees, and to become reacquainted with the natural world. And that’s a good thing! Goodbye, I’m off to hug a tree...

Author: Sandra Kynes
Published by: Llewellyn Publications, 2006
ISBN: 0-7387-0781-3

Tarot Masterclass

Paul Fenton-Smith is a best selling author of eight books on Palmistry, Tarot, Astrology and the psychic sciences. I’ve been following his career since 1997, when I met him at an International Tarot Conference. During that weekend, the presentation that he gave was entitled “The Tarot: Preparing for Mainstream Acceptance”, and in this talk he emphasised the need for Tarot readers to be highly ethical and well trained in their craft. His latest book “Tarot Masterclass” expands upon these principles, and also offers practical advice for those thinking of establishing their own Tarot business. There are 342 pages of informative text and illustrations that show his wealth of expertise in the world of Tarot.

The book is well designed and smartly presented. I know that the content is the most important thing, not the looks, but a book seems to be easier to read, and offers a more enjoyable reading experience, when it’s laid out clearly and with a sense of style. Pagans will also appreciate the drawing of the pentagram at the beginning of each chapter! Paul said that this symbol was “an artistic decision, but I like the upright pentacle, for to me it symbolises mental discipline of the desires, or passion directed by the mind. It’s had a bit of bad press, but if those people who fear it understood it better, they might work at living their lives in the manner of an upright pentacle.”

In Tarot Masterclass, the author explains what you can realistically expect from a tarot reading, such as inspiring you to fulfil your dreams and clarifying your immediate challenges and obstacles. The limitations of tarot readings are also discussed, and this can prepare you as a tarot interpreter, so that you don’t have unrealistic expectations about what you may be able to achieve.

What sets this book apart from any others that I’ve seen are the tips on how to read Tarot cards in conjunction with each other, and the chapters that focus on establishing and running your own Tarot business. And because the best way of receiving direct answers from Tarot cards is to ask precise and concise questions, Paul has included a chart that details over fifty clearly worded suggestions that can help you to form the most suitable query, so that you can gain the most from a Tarot session.

Another innovation is found in Paul’s interpretations of the cards. Apart from the general meaning, he also supplies suggestions as to how each of the Minor Arcana cards relate to finances and health. In another chapter, interpretations of the Major Arcana are given in this same way, with the inclusion of spiritual meanings too.

Court cards are normally only given a passing reference in most books, but Paul has described these cards in depth, showing how people represented by them respond to certain situations. He gives their attitude to setbacks; how they act when upset; their sense of humour; their compatibility with each other; their business sense; and their spiritual purpose in the physical world. He manages to bring the characters of the court cards alive with four chapters of anecdotes, case histories, and his expressive storytelling style.

Even though the title of this book gives the impression that it is only for advanced students of Tarot, I think that it would be extremely useful as a guide for beginners too, as it gives very detailed explanations of the meanings of the cards, and encourages a deeper understanding of the Tarot—something that is lacking in many introductory books.

Title: Tarot Masterclass
Published by Allen and Unwin
ISBN: 9781741751277

True Magick - a Beginner's Guide

The title "True Magick" may seem familiar, because it’s been on Recommended Reading lists for newcomers to The Craft since 1990. After selling over 200,000 copies, Llewellyn has now revised and expanded this “little green book” that has given practical, helpful guidance to those wishing to learn the basics of magick.

It has a new cover (it’s still green though) and it has six new chapters, and over 100 “Exercises Toward Mastery” that will help students to gain a better understanding of the useful principles that the author is explaining. Amber’s intention in this revised version of her book was to “expand the boundaries into more advanced areas, and to incorporate more information about inner magick, nature magick, and everyday magick.” She has also updated this book with some recent scientific research that supports her theories on how magick works. The author has introduced material on quantum physics because, “scientists are beginning to find evidence that the universe is even more mysterious and amazing than anyone had guessed—anyone but magicians, that is.” Amber can be quite poetic at times too; while discoursing on the thought that possibilities are infinite, she says, “Somewhere, as you read these words, centaurs dance by moonlight, and torchlight glints from a golden hoard where dragons lie dreaming in their caverns.”

If you are looking for a book on personal transformation, and your desire is to incorporate magick into your everyday life, then buy this book! I liked it because the author drums into her readers that magick is to be taken seriously—her students are encouraged to work hard on the astral realms as well as in the material world. She enforces the concept that faith, dedication, and imagination are the keys to a magickal life.

Chapters on Ethics and Hazards, Choosing a Magickal Name, Connecting with Deity, and Tree Magick, are combined with hints on maintaining a balanced lifestyle in order to enhance your magickal work. But there’s more—so much more! There’s over 350 pages in this new edition, and they’re all worth reading. It’d be so tempting to dip into a chapter here and there to satisfy your curiosity about some of these areas, but it will be much more rewarding to read through it all page by page, doing the exercises as you go.

This book is going to be valuable for those who are just beginning to explore Paganism, and it’s not too simplified that it will bore those who have trodden this path for a while. I imagine that covens will find it particularly worthwhile to invest in a copy of this book, because studying and discussing each chapter, and then working through the exercises as a group, would be an excellent way to learn all facets of this deep and exciting subject.

Author: Amber K
Published by: Llewellyn
ISBN: 0-7387-0823-2

The Tarot Revealed - a Beginner's Guide

There are not many tarot books around that have sold over 100,000 copies. Most beginner’s guides to tarot fall by the wayside because they are too simplistic, or too full of mystical jargon, or too advanced for those who have just picked up a deck of cards. Paul Fenton-Smith’s book The Tarot Revealed goes beyond the basics, but has manageable chunks of information that are easily digested. This is why this book has been so successful. Even its Chinese version is in its 13th edition, with new printings twice a year!

The Tarot Revealed has just been revised and re-released. It’s now through a new publisher and it has a new look that marries it to Paul’s recent book, Tarot Masterclass. It has the same stylish layout and design as Masterclass, and it includes similar, handy reference charts. Colour images of the whole deck are shown in this section. In this revised version, Paul has included even more meanings for reversed cards.

One of the highlights of The Tarot Revealed is the story of each Suit, where we are taken on a journey that explains the nature of each card. In other areas of the book, the general meaning of each image is given, and the “relationship meaning” of each card is also explored, since this is an area that is most often asked about.

Another useful section is the one that looks at the combinations of cards that show certain situations, such as pregnancy, karmic lessons, and even physical death.

Spreads for different situations and specific needs are offered of course. And for those who look to tarot for a deeper understanding of their true self, the Spiritual Direction Layout offers awareness regarding spiritual direction.

This is a well-crafted book that helps you to understand tarot cards, which will then lead you to a greater awareness of the world around you, and your own inner nature. Highly recommended!

Title: The Tarot Revealed
Published by Allen and Unwin
ISBN: 978-1-74175-259-5

Sunwyse - Celebrating the Sacred Wheel of the Year in Australia

At last! An entire book devoted to celebrating Pagan festivals in the Southern Hemisphere.

The description given about each festival includes information about that time of the year from diverse viewpoints... Traditional Aboriginal lore is mixed with modern Australian activities, and Celtic customs are interspersed with snippets of information about the seasonal effects on our animals and local plants. This is followed by “Ways of Celebrating” each festival, and ideas from that section have formed the basis for many of my recent rituals.

Unlike many writers on this subject, the author doesn’t just transpose Northern Hemisphere traditions and ideas upon Southern Hemisphere seasons. Roxanne Bodsworth has taken into account the varied lifestyles, agricultural diversity, and multiculturalism that exists across the broad landscape of our country, and she integrates this knowledge into a useful patchwork of ideas for our seasonal celebrations down under.

In this book the traditional names of the “greater” festivals, have been changed, in order to differentiate them from “standard” ritual concepts. Lughnasadh becomes the “Harvest Feast”, Samhain is a “Festival of the Dead”, Imbolc is “The Quickening”, and Beltaine is “The Love Festival”.

This book is highly recommended for those who appreciate the inclusion of locally relevant ideas into their rituals and festivals.

Roxanne, a writer/poet from North East Victoria, is a regular attendee at the Australian Wiccan Conferences, and has recently been living in Ireland while pursuing her Celtic studies.

Author: Roxanne T. Bodsworth
Published by: Hihorse Pty Ltd

The Serpent & the Southern Cross

“It guides every thought we have

& every action we take.

It is our past, present & future.

There is nothing that is separate

from our spirituality.”

South Australian author Druidara has written a unique and fascinating book that details the spiritual path of Druidry in Australia. It’s a welcome addition to the libraries of those who want to know how to develop the skills and wisdom of modern day Druids.

A brief but realistic account of the history of the Druids is offered at the start of this book, as well as insight to the personal honour, beliefs and guidelines that Druids hold so dearly. In the chapters that follow, the author covers all the basics of the Druid tradition, such as tools, meditations and initiation, but you’ll also find extra information that is very worthwhile, like tips on how to start your own Druidic Grove. Examples of handfastings and naming ceremonies are given too, as well as some of the old Irish myths and legends that are still so important to the Druids of today’s world.

Apart from honouring their Gods and Ancestors, Druids celebrate the seasonal cycles of the year, so a comprehensive list of innovative ritual ideas that incorporate a local flavour, is given for each of the Sabbats. Some of the suggestions for Summer Solstice include celebrating the ripening of native grasses and fruits; marking the point of the setting sun from a vantage point in your circle; and making some bread in the shape of the sun and leaving it as an offering for birds and small animals to enjoy.

One of the best things about this book, is that Druidara has many years of experience within Wiccan traditions, so she is able to give comparisons between Druidry and Wiccan practices, using terms that all pagans can relate to. The book has been designed to cover the initial steps towards becoming a Druid, but even experienced ritualists will find spiritual philosophies that are worthy of further contemplation, and new ideas to implement in future ceremonies.

“Although there is no quick way to become a Druid, it is not particularly difficult either. The process begins with desire to be more closely entwined with nature, but what really forms a Druid is a daily, sometimes minute by minute focus on interpreting our lives & interactions by the twin illuminations of our beliefs & personal credo. By devoted practice we give birth, sometimes in darkness, to the shimmering, leaping salmon that is the soul of a Druid.”

This book is very informative, but it doesn’t fall into the trap of being overly academic - it’s an enjoyable journey down the Druid path, as seen through the eyes of one who has travelled along this stimulating course for many years. It’s not as dry as Peter Berresford Ellis’s scholarly accounts in The Druids; it’s certainly not as pedantic as Frazer’s Golden Bough; but at the same time it’s not as fanciful as Emma Restall Orr’s visionary tales. In The Serpent & the Southern Cross, Druidara has a gentle but direct relationship with the reader, which brings about a feeling of mutual trust and respect.

This is “Book One” about a very deep and valuable topic, and in the early chapters we’re told that the intention of this book was just to give an overview of the Druid’s path, which the author hoped would “inspire further investigation”, but it is much more than that. I’m looking forward to Book Two, so that I can have an even better understanding of the Druid lifestyle, as seen through the eyes and heart of the talented Druidara!

Author: Druidara
Available through: druidara@yahoo.com.au

Selling Spirituality

According to the authors (Jeremy Carrette and Richard King) the aim of this book was to show the exploitation of the spiritual, and to highlight how the esoteric has become a powerful commodity in the global marketplace. In an attempt to bring the idea of capitalist spirituality to a wider audience, Carrette and King say that they have attempted to approach this topic in a way that is more simple and accessible than traditional academic monographs. In this latter challenge, they fail miserably! Their claim of a ‘narrative style’ would only be accurate if one were used to overhearing stuffy Oxford Professors having conversations about subjects such as neoliberal ideology. But in its endeavour to expose the commodification of spiritual values, it definitely succeeds.

This book examines the growing commercialisation of spirituality, in forms such as feng shui, aromatherapy, yoga and New Age gurus. There is a quote in it which says, ‘We live out our relation to our ultimate meaning through what and how we buy. Let the integration of faith and economy be the mark of the true spiritual seeker today, a consuming faith.’ (Tom Beaudoin – Consuming Faith) I do hope that’s supposed to be sarcasm, but I fear that it’s not! I feel that this type of attitude is what the authors are trying to warn us about.

It’s not a gripping book, but it raises important questions about big businesses and the media (which is often owned by the same corporations) and their effect upon our spiritual ideals and outlook. The authors argue against the exploitation of religious concepts as marketing tools. They say that products such as Zen deodorant and Samsara perfume are clothed in an aura of mysticism and mystique, at the expense of the values that they represent. And in our own supermarkets here in Australia, it’s easy to see that this proliferation of esoteric branding is commonplace.

Carrette and King spend a lot of time attempting to define ‘spirituality’ and religion’, only to confuse us more with terminology such as ‘ontological transcendence’. Fortunately though, once all this is out the way, some more great quotes come along, such as, ‘Alongside TVs, hi-fi systems, washing machines, IKEA furniture and designer clothes, you can also have your very own spirituality, with or without crystals!’ and ‘consumerism is no longer presented as a challenge to traditional religious sensibilities, because you can now buy it wholesale and ignore the corporate links to poverty and social injustice.’

The rest of the book seemed to focus on ‘affluence gurus’ such as Osho Rajneesh (the Rolls Royce guru) and Deepak Chopra, who ‘did not see a problem with the conjoining of individual wealth-acquisition and spiritual advancement.’ The bending of sacred teachings (notably that of Buddhism and Taoism) into capitalistic business models also comes under scrutiny in the latter parts of the book.

Far from being a conspiracy theory about spirituality and corporations, this book is simply about how religion has been repackaged for consumption through the idea of spirituality and how big businesses have used the gloss of spiritual practices to support corporate interests. It’s a warning about not allowing spirituality to be imbued with, or confused with capitalism. The authors call for social justice and sustainable lifestyles as a way of avoiding the excesses of consumerism. This book shows a deep annoyance towards advertisers who misuse spiritual values, but it has been written in such an academic manner (meaning that I often had to refer to my dictionary) that I have to admit that a lot of it went straight over my crown chakra!

We have become a religiously capitalistic society, and ‘Selling Spirituality’ makes me wonder where it is all leading to. One example of where it all might be heading is shown in the book – a 24 year old man put his soul up for sale on E-bay! The final price was only $31, plus $15 for postage, so I guess there’s not much of a market for used souls. But the final word has to go to Confucious, who reminds us that ‘the superior mind understands moral goodness, while the inferior understands only profit.’

Title: Selling Spirituality: the silent takeover of religion
Author: J Carrette & R King
Published by: Routledge 2005
ISBN: 0-415-30209-9

Seeker

When I saw that Rachel Pollack had published a new book on tarot, I snapped it up quickly to check it out. I’m a big fan of her work on tarot, and it is for very good reasons that her first book ‘Seventy Eight Degrees of Wisdom’ is known as the bible of tarot.

One of the best bits about ‘Seeker’ is the Preface, in which Rachel describes her first experiences with the cards and how she became a teacher of tarot. I also liked the section explaining away the superstitious practices associated with tarot. But this book is obviously written for (very young) teens who want to be tarot readers, and adult beginners who want things spelled out for them in real simple terms.

Rachel Pollack is a poet, an artist, an award winning novelist, and probably the world’s most respected writer on the subject of tarot. ‘Seeker’ is her 28th book and is a basic guide to tarot that shows what it’s all about, in a no-nonsense kind of way. The mysteriousness of tarot is left behind and tarot itself is simply described as a technique that ‘allows us to look at ourselves and what’s going on in our lives.’

I can recommend it for Witchlings who want to delve into divination, as it has a down-to-earth quality that’s often lacking in books on tarot. It’s nicely presented, with images of the cards and keywords shown on each page.

Seeker: the Tarot Unveiled
Author: Rachel Pollack
Published by: Llewellyn Publications
ISBN: 0-7387-0521-7

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