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By Francisco Goya -
Google Cultural Institute,
Public Domain,
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WELCOME
to the Edge of the Circle Newsletter. This newsletter has come about
as an effort to reach out to the Pagan/ Occult community
(particularly in Seattle where we are based) to inform the community
of what events are happening at our store. Without further ado,
welcome, and enjoy.
Regards,
Erica (Raven) Branch-Butler, Editrix- golanv1@yahoo.com
WHO
WE ARE: Edge of the Circle Books is Seattle's resource for
Paganism & the Occult. This newsletter seeks to provide the
Seattle community with a place to list events, post articles, and do
a bit of networking.
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the Circle Books strives to be your ideal Magical Pagan store. Open 7
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This group
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REMINDER:
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Prices
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**
ENTERING
HEKATE'S GARDEN:
The
Magick, Medicine & Mystery of Plant Spirit Witchcraft
by
Cyndi Brannen
Paperback :
288 pages
Publisher :
Weiser Books (November 1, 2020)
List
Price: $22.95
FROM THE
PUBLISHER:
A guide to
plant spirit ritual and witchcraft, with practical instruction on the
use of botanicals especially associated with the beloved goddess
Hekate and her daughters Circe and Medea.
Bringing
pharmakeia (the practice of plant spirit witchcraft) into
contemporary times, Entering Hekate’s Garden merges historical
knowledge with modern techniques. In it, author Cyndi Brannen offers
her extensive insight into Hekatean ritual and witchcraft and
especially its application to the Green World. The book features
detailed monographs dedicated to 39 plants ranging from the esoteric
such as aconite, American mandrake, and damiana to the accessible
including bay laurel, dandelion, fennel, garlic, juniper, and
lavender.
This book
blends traditional methods with the author's personal approach,
emphasizing her understanding of plant spirits as allies in the
witch’s journey. It includes a new taxonomy for interpreting plant
energies, methods for creating new correspondences, the importance of
layering, using botanicals in spells, rituals, altars, and more, as
well as ways to develop meaningful relationships with the pharmakoi
(master plant spirits). Poetry, petitions, and musings about
pharmakeia are woven throughout.
Entering
Hekate’s Garden takes readers deep into the mystical world of
botanical witchery in a way no other book has before.
Sacred
Seven Altar
This ritual
is suitable for any evocation of the Sacred Seven within and without.
Perform it regularly to stay connected to your power source. Corpus
here refers to the physical being. In this ritual, the powers of the
Sacred Seven are merged with your corporeal self, in addition to
activating your slumbering soul powers. Thus, it is truly a ritual
that unleashes your power as a practitioner of plant-spirit
witchcraft. Connecting to these primal forces attunes you to their
reflections in the botanicals with which you work. It represents a
download of the knowledge of these core archetypes of all the
universe, symbolized by Hekate’s crown.
Triple
Goddess Altar
The
magickal creation that will contain the energy of a spell is known as
magikeia. This can be a potion, a talisman, a sigil, a poppet, or
even an altar. One of my favorite forms of magikeia is to create an
altar with a candle, a card, and a botanical. This incorporates the
sacred Triformis energy of the Triple Goddesses, representing
wholeness and creation. The three-part spell can consist of
correspondences that are additive or complementary. Additive
correpondences are botanicals (and other spirits) that have similar
properties evoked into the spell so that they amplify the overall
power because of their homogeneity. Complementary correspondences are
those which have disparate abilities that we combine into a whole
spell.
Saturn
Binding Spell
The basic
technique for binding ingredients into a spell is done through the
instructions we
give the spirits we are working with. Some botanicals
are easier to direct than others. There are specialist pharmakoi who
are excellent at binding other spell ingredients together, like birch
and skullcap. As you develop your spells, consider how you will
achieve the coagulation—the binding together—of the various
components. How will the botanicals be synergistically merged? We
often seek to bind others in our spells, in the same way we use our
directions to control the ingredients in them. Binding is about
combining and control.
Pharmakeia
Lucerna
The process
of infusing botanical spirits into candles (pharmakeia lucerna) is
one of the most
versatile forms of spellcraft. You can use scented
candles, as long as they contain actual botanical essences, to evoke
the spirits and direct them into your spell. More effective is to add
the botanicals you chose for the spell to the candle. The simplest
technique is to place the botanicals around the base of the candle,
drawing out their properties and then merging them with the candle
through your intentional directions. Candles in the elemental colors
are excellent choices, for you can summon the corresponding elemental
spirit in addition to Fire.
REVIEWS~
“Enchanting!
Cyndi Brannen’s Entering Hekate's Garden: The Magick, Medicine, and
Mystery of Plant Spirit Witchcraft is a treasure trove of herbal lore
blended with magical practice for empowerment, protection, and more.
An in-depth study of Hekatean theogony demonstrating the passion of a
true plant priestess, this book is a must for anyone looking to
deepen their magical practice, connection to Hekate, or knowledge of
plants.”-- Amy Blackthorn, priestess of Hekate, author of
Blackthorn’s Botanical Magic, Sacred Smoke, and Blackthorn’s
Botanical Brews
“One
cannot talk about Hekate without eventually talking about Medea and
Circe. One cannot discuss the magic of these witches without talking
about plants. For the Greeks, pharmakeia was synonymous with magic,
yet so few authors are willing to talk openly and frankly about it.
In Entering Hekate’s Garden, Cyndi Brannen manages to provide a
cornucopia of plant magic that will be useful for anyone interested
in Hekatean magic. I expect to be referencing the recipes and lore
for years to come.”-- Jason Miller, author of The Elements of
Spellcrafting
“Beautifully
written in classic grimoire style, Cyndi Brannen uses Hekate and her
daughters Medea and Circe to navigate the occult world of botanicals
and mythology. Entering Hekate’s Garden is necessary for every
witch and student of the craft!”-- Lawren Leo, author of Horse
Magick: Spells and Rituals for Self-Empowerment, Protection, and
Prosperity
“I
have long wanted a book like Entering Hekate’s Garden to exist. As
a devotee of Hekate, the botanical connections of Hekate and her
priestess-witch daughters in mythology and lore has always fascinated
me. For many years, I have wanted to take the time to compile all the
lore together myself for my own personal practice. Luckily, Cyndi
Brannen has done all the heavy lifting for us. She has taken the
seeds of ancient and classical lore and grown something lush,
beautiful, new, and extremely beneficial for any modern witch, while
also maintaining the historical roots. I greatly enjoy all of Cyndi’s
works and books, but this is by far my favorite of hers to date. I
know it will be a book that I reference often in my personal magickal
practice and devotional work.”-- Mat Auryn, author of Psychic
Witch: A Metaphysical Guide to Meditation, Magick, and Manifestation
“I
remember reading Cyndi Brannen’s previous book, Keeping Her Keys,
and the wave of excitement and emotion that kept coming over me as I
read each page. It was so clear to me then, even though Cyndi had
stated otherwise, that this was a nascent, yet ancient tradition that
she was channeling forth and presenting to all of us. The rituals,
the history and the body of work in that book felt so incredibly
detailed that indeed at that time it felt like a complete tradition
presented to the world. But now, with Entering Hekate’s Garden,
Cyndi takes us deeper, fleshing out a profound, complex, and
beautifully rich body of work. The botanical lore and practices in
this book serve to deepen what is a potently transformative and
devotional path and practice for those called by Hekate. I truly
believe we are witnessing a sacred download of wisdom and guidance
through Cyndi’s books."-- Elena Rego, creator and owner of
The Witches Box
“From
its first page, Cyndi Brannen’s gorgeously written Entering
Hekate’s Garden is not your average herbal. Its clear instructions,
straight-forward exercises, and incredibly detailed individual plant
entries will be a long-time valuable tool for any witch who has
already stained their fingers green, as well as those who’ve not
yet stepped one foot in the garden. If you walk the Poison Path, read
this. If you’re an herbalist, read this. If you think you can’t
hear the voices of plant spirits, definitely read this. The torches
are lit and the gate has been opened. Hekate awaits!” --
Tara-Love Maguire, co-author of Besom, Stang, and Sword: A Guide to
Traditional Witchcraft, the Six-Fold Path, and the Hidden Landscape
"Entering
Hekate's Garden removes the veil of separation between the reader and
the magical world of plants, as Cyndi Brannen generously shares her
wisdom about thirty-nine species of plants associated with Hekate.
Her deep insights on identification, harvesting, preparation, and
spellwork can only be described as masterful. It's sure to inspire
anyone interested in deepening their connection with herbalism or
modern Hekatean witchcraft." -- Astrea Taylor, author of
Intuitive Witchcraft: How to Use Intuition to Elevate Your Craft
“Energy
healer Brannen (Keeping Her Keys) presents a wide-ranging botanical
grimoire based on the traditions of ancient Greek goddess Hekate and
her daughters, Circe and Medea. At the heart of the guide is detailed
information on 39 plants (among them dandelion, fennel, frankincense,
juniper, lavender, and mugwort) explaining their physical and
metaphysical properties, and how they can be incorporated into
spells.”--Publishers Weekly
About
the Author:
Cyndi
Brannen, PhD, is a spiritual teacher, trained energetic healer,
psychic, and herbalist. Merging her training in shamanism, tarot,
past life work, meditation, and psychology, she teaches and writes
about better living through witchcraft.
**
YEAR OF
THE WITCH:
Connecting
with Nature's Seasons through Intuitive Magick
by
Temperance Alden
Paperback :
224 pages
Publisher :
Weiser Books (November 1, 2020)
LIST PRICE:
$14.95
FROM THE
PUBLISHER:
“In
her much-needed and brilliant Year of the Witch, Temperance Alden
guides readers to observe their own land, celestial cycles, seasonal
cycles, and even their own biological cycles to inform their magickal
year.”-- Mat Auryn, author of Psychic Witch: A Metaphysical
Guide to Meditation, Magick, and Manifestation
When we
think of the wheel of the year, the Wiccan wheel with its
celebrations of the Yule, Beltane, Mabon, and Samhain come to mind.
But what about a wheel of the year for the rest of us pagans and
witches? As a witch living in sunny South Florida, longtime
hereditary witch Temperance Alden has often felt at odds gearing up
to celebrate Yule, for example, when it is 76 degrees and sunny
outside.
Year of the
Witch will help readers create their own intuitive practices in
harmony with the climate, culture, and local spirits where they live.
It’s of interest to witches coming off the Wiccan path and looking
for a more personal approach to celebrating the rhythms of nature.
Year of the
Witch
covers all aspects of this new, seasonal practice:
The
origins of the neo-pagan wheel of the year and why it is still so
relevant today
Culture,
historical facts, and traditions associated with the major
ceremonies
Basic
principles of land-based magick
How to
intuitively connect to the nature below your feet and the local gods
Being
a custodian to the land and its impact on our spiritual practice
For the
witch, every day of the year can become a sacred one. The year of the
witch starts with you, and it starts right now. In the words of
psychologist Charles Richards, "Don’t be fooled by the
calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of.
One man gets only a week’s value out of a year while another man
gets a full year’s value out of a week."-Temperance Alden
The
Spiritual Garden, the Elements, and Altars
Soul
Planting
Gardening
to the witch should not be purely a physical experience but a
soul-deep interaction. It is where we give ourselves freely to the
earth, and the earth gives itself, its bounty, and its energy back to
us. In this way, the relationship between the gardener and their
garden is much more spiritually tuned. Including our garden in our
daily spiritual practice takes it out of the realm of chores and
puts it into the realm of enlightenment.
Calling
Down the Elements
Each of the
four base seasons has a primary element that can be specifically
drawn on to aid spellwork. When calling on the elements, we can use
the power of the seasons to evoke particular energy! I think
connecting seasons with elements is a really cool concept, and has
allowed me to gain a deeper relationship with the natural world and
its elements seasonally. Thinking back to the pentagram and the
elements of fire, water, earth, air, and Spirit, we can begin to
match seasons with their respective elements.
Outdoor
Altars
When
creating an outdoor seasonal altar, start by closing your eyes and
allowing the energy of your surroundings to flow through you. Where
are you called to place this altar? When you find the spot, look
around. Are there any rocks or pieces of wood or naturally carved-out
spots that seem like natural places for an altar? If this is a
temporary altar that you will be packing up when you leave, you can
use any supplies that you brought in, such as tables, cloths,
statues, candles, etc. If you are crafting a more permanent altar to
last through the season that you can return to again and again, it is
best to use the material that nature has supplied to prevent damage
to the space you are in.
Your
Wheel of the Year
Your wheel
of the year starts here, and it starts right now. How we use the
opportunities that we are given to positively change the world
matter. What would happen to your practice if you were forced to move
tomorrow? Would you be able to support your craft in a new setting
with different lands, spirits, elements, and climates? Or would you
find yourself struggling like a fish out of water, trying to connect
using methods that are no longer effective for where you are?
A connected
wheel of the year practice is extremely grassroots in that it
encourages you to become one with the land you are on, to touch and
experience everything that the earth has to offer you while staying
grounded to the only constant that there is: time. It doesn’t
matter if you build a fancy aesthetic altar, or prefer to get your
daily dose of spirituality outdoors—what matters is that you
take the time every day to push yourself and grow deeper in your
craft.
Reviews
“Temperance
Alden has written a book about the wheel of the year that can finally
serve all witches and magickal practitioners living anywhere in the
world in any climate. The authenticity in Alden’s prose enables her
to effectively teach how to develop intuition and work with elements,
leading to a more profound understanding of the power of life’s
cycles. Delightful recipes and engaging rituals and spells help
readers to create a wheel of the year unique to their own
experiences. Year of the Witch is a direct conduit to Mother Earth
and all Her power, and Alden has unveiled secrets even experienced
witches will want to know.”-- Lawren Leo, author of Horse
Magick: Spells and Rituals for Self-Empowerment, Protection, and
Prosperity
“Not
only is Year of the Witch an engaging, thoughtful and truly fun read,
but it is also packed with wisdom and insight that only comes from
the living the path. Temperance’s words are so generous and
supportive and her perspective offers so much depth for new and
practiced witches alike. Whether you’re a city witch or swamp
witch, whether you’re been celebrating the wheel of the year for a
decade or are new to it, this book has something to offer through the
many practices, advice, prompts and invitations that help readers
reconnect with the cycles of the earth and those within themselves.
This book is so encouraging of the fact that there’s no one way to
be a witch, without watering down the potency or power of the craft;
a true act of magick.”-- Gabriela Herstik, author of Inner
Witch: A Modern Guide to the Ancient Craft and Bewitching the
Elements: A Guide to Empowering Yourself Through Earth, Air, Fire,
Water and Spirit
“The
Year of The Witch surpasses all other wheel of the year books on my
shelves as a perfect mix of traditional practices and modern
application . . . An absolute ‘must-have’ if you’re looking
to incorporate the wheel into your life without the pressure of
ideas about what you ’should do’ and only build instead upon
what is authentic to you.”-- Olivia Graves, The Witch of
Wanderlust
“Presenting
a fresh take on an old subject, Temperance Alden's Year of the Witch
has a refreshingly conversational tone and takes us past traditional
101 books. Year of the Witch encourages us to both live in the moment
and in the specific environment in which we find ourselves. This book
is great for beginners, as well as old friends seeking to refresh and
re-invigorate their practice.” -- Amy Blackthorn, author of
Blackthorn’s Botanical Magic, Sacred Smoke, and Blackthorn’s
Botanical Brews.
“Temperance
Alden is at the fore of a new generation of witches, and they are
smart, fearless, and ready to overthrow paradigms that many of us
have taken for granted. Year of the Witch invites readers to
challenge the assumption that the Wheel of the Year needs to uphold
Arcadian agricultural ideals that just don't apply to how we actually
live and practice our Crafts. Temperance is here to remind us that we
don't know as much as we think we do, and thank goodness for
that.”—-- Thorn Mooney, author of Traditional Wicca: A
Seeker's Guide
“The
key to the heart of witchery lies in authentic connection. But many
witches feel disconnected with the traditional Wheel of the Year due
to either its religious tones or because the seasonal celebrations
are based upon the European climates of the Wheel’s origins.
Temperance Alden remedies this in her much-needed and brilliant Year
of the Witch, where she guides the readers to observe their own land,
celestial cycles, seasonal cycles, and even one’s own biological
cycles to inform their magickal year. Drawing on folklore, mythology,
and religious customs surrounding the Wheel of the Year, Alden
provides a well-researched overview of the themes of the Sabbats,
while urging the reader to intuitively tap into themselves to learn
how to authentically connect with the high holy holidays of the witch
to extract power and wisdom from them, regardless of their path or
religious leanings.”-- Mat Auryn, author of Psychic Witch: A
Metaphysical Guide to Meditation, Magick, and Manifestation
About
the Author:
Temperance
Alden is a hereditary folk witch with over eighteen years of practice
devoted to witchcraft and paganism. She is the founder of Wild Woman
Witchcraft.
**
WILD
MAGIC:
Celtic
Folk Traditions for the Solitary Practitioner
by
Danu Forest
Paperback :
240 pages
Publisher :
Llewellyn Publications (November 8, 2020)
List
Price:$19.99
FROM THE
PUBLISHER:
Shake off
the energy of our frenetic modern-day life and reconnect to the wild
magic of your heart. This book is an immersive guide to creating deep
relationships with faerie folk, green kin, the ancestors, and the
spirits of the land. Explore dozens of meditations and exercises
based on Celtic lore that serve as energetic keys for accessing
levels of reality and spiritual destinations that will forever
transform your relationship to the here and now. Learn how to work
with animal spirits, the powers of place, and the tides. Discover the
magic of the elements and attune your soul to the sun, the moon, and
the cycles of the seasons.
Connecting
to nature in a magical way opens our awareness to a wider deeper
source than anything we can comprehend. Wild Magic is all about
sensing subtle energies, starting fires traditionally, practicing
herbal magic, making a divnination kit, and so much more. This is a
book drawn from country wisdom and Celtic tradition, with spells and
rituals designed to channel your own modern wildness for the benefit
of all.
Praise for
Wild Magic:
"...Wild
Magic is an inspired blending of folk practice, mythic wisdom, and
solid scholarship that draws upon the rich cultural heritage of the
British Isles, Ireland, and Gaul. Informed by ancient lore, and
grounded in Celtic customs by the inclusion of traditional chants,
prayers, and spells, Danu Forest presents clear tools and workings
that guide the modern seeker along the path to personal relationship
with the land, its spirits, and the Gods and guardians of
place."—Jhenah Telyndru, author of Avalon Within and The
Mythic Moons of Avalon
"Danu
Forest...has deftly interwoven both the practical and the magical,
leading the reader towards an authentic alignment with the wild magic
of the land itself. Through spells, exercises, guided journeys and
folklore from the Celtic traditions, Forest shows us how to reclaim
our connection to our own wildness and live in accordance with the
spirit of place, wherever we call home."—Danielle
Blackwood, author of The Twelve Faces of the Goddess
About
the Author:
Danu Forest
is a traditional Celtic wisewoman who has studied on the Celtic path
for over thirty years. She is noted for her many years of experience,
her gifts as a natural hereditary seer, and her scholarly research.
She lives in the wild marshes surrounding the legendary Glastonbury
Tor and is the author of several books, including Celtic Tree Magic:
Ogham Lore and Druid Mysteries. She holds an MA in Celtic Studies.
**
QUEERING
YOUR CRAFT:
Witchcraft
from the Margins
by
Cassandra Snow, Mat Auryn (Foreword)
Paperback :
288 pages
Publisher :
Weiser Books (November 1, 2020)
List
Price:$16.95
FROM THE
PUBLISHER:
“As
evident through the pages of this book, Snow holds a vision for the
queer aspirant who hears the call to witchery, to find healing,
empowerment, strength, and pride through their craft. Through
creative and unique journal prompts, introspection, rituals, and
spells, Snow achieves this beautifully, and herein lays the perfect
guide for the queer witch to stand in their power and stand beside
others; truly queering our craft with compassion and pride.”--Mat
Auryn, author of Psychic Witch: A Metaphysical Guide to Meditation,
Magick, and Manifestation
Witchcraft
has always belonged to the outsiders and outcasts in society, yet so
much of the practice enforces and adheres to the same hierarchy we
face in the world at large—a hierarchy that isolates and hurts
those living beyond society’s binaries and boundaries. While there
are books that address magick for resistance and queer myth, until
now there has not been one that specifically addresses the practice
of queer magick from an LGBTQ+ standpoint.
Queering
Your Craft combines queer aesthetic and culture (like DIY culture and
an emphasis on chosen family over formal covens) with pagan and
metaphysical spiritual practice in a way that is commonplace but has
not been written about until now. This book covers the personal, the
collective, and the political, and how deeply intertwined all three
are in a magickal practice for those who are LGBTQ+.
In this
introduction to witchcraft, Snow presents why/how each concept is
important to a queer craft, or how to approach it from a queer
mindset. For example, conventional prayer, words, and symbols have
always been problematic in a queer universe: How to make them work
and still be true to yourself? The bulk of the book is about learning
the craft. The latter portion is a grimoire of spells.
While
accessible to beginning witches, Queering Your Craft provides new and
inspiring information for longtime practitioners interested in a pure
and personal approach that avoids the baggage of history and
stereotype.
Excerpts:
Incantations
& Mantras
Sometimes
our practice includes writing, visual art, or both and over time we
notice that there are distinct words and themes that come to the
surface of our practice no matter which form of magick we’ve been
using. These often drive at deeper needs that developed and weren’t
met for a sustained period of our life. This can be scars from trauma
or oppression, or it could be a need or desire we never learned to
voice. In either case, a deeper healing is needed. In these times,
words can still be our deepest allies even if we feel like we aren’t
good at them. Incantations and mantras are all of that pain, those
needs, those desires condensed into short, quick verbal spells like:
“With
the power inside of my heart and gut, I will attract a new lover
thus. But I am content until they come and I am joyful on my own.”
Or...
“As I work throughout the day, I attract so much money to me.”
Or...
“I am connected to my gods and the Earth in all things.”
Or
even just... “I deserve to be happy.”
A Primer
on Shadow Work
Shadow work
is about healing, but just like our shadow selves that don’t always
look like we expect it to. If your shadow self can be manipulative or
have a lot of badly aspected trickster energy, your healing is often
coming to peace with this side of yourself by learning to find
healthier ways to work with it. If you get jealous and anxious
easily, healing might be learning to look for the root of why and
bringing new goals to the forefront.
In making
peace with our shadow selves we say that there is no part of us that
is bad. There are parts of us that we hide. There are parts that can
be harmful if we don’t learn how to dance with them. There are
parts that are hurting, parts that just need attention, parts that
need to play. There are not parts of you that are wrong. Queer people
face backlash about how we are always wrong no matter what we are
doing. Over a lifetime we internalize that and we believe it, but it
isn’t true.
A Queer
Witch Grimoire
When I was
asking my local queer and Pagan communities what they wanted out of a
queer witchcraft book, the resounding, almost unanimous first answer
was spells. In the DIY Witchcraft chapter we talked at length about
how to write your own spells, but it can be hard to get a handle on
it until you see and work with several existing spells. My main
argument for DIY witchcraft is largely about accessibility in grasp
and cost, so the spells in this grimoire vary wildly but should be
doable at most income levels and with any handle at all on witchcraft
or magick. Some of them still require you to trust yourself as a
witch, as an intuitive person, as a writer or artist, even if you
don’t identify as any of those things. Additionally, the burnout
queer people feel on a daily basis is very real. While I can usually
rally the strength to do a spell, I cannot if I also have to write,
design, and gather things for it as well. Because I want this to be
an easy, accessible group of spells for you to perform, there are
plenty of cheap-to-free options or substitutes you can make (à la
DIY witchcraft) for each intention.
It’s
important to remember that easy to perform and accessible does not
mean these are weak and fluffy spells. Queer witches are not weak and
fluffy by the very nature of how hard we work to maintain full, rich
lives while also having our voices heard, while also sheltering and
loving each other, while also working to create very real change in
the world. We are powerful beyond comprehension, to the point that it
terrifies entire political administrations enough to try and write us
out via legislation and whatever other ample tools they have. Yet we
exist, and we persist as a community. We create change and screw
things up for those in charge every day. We do not and will not back
down.
So no,
these are not fluffy spells, they are tried and true, powerful and
magickal workings. These spells tap into queer ancestors’ magick,
the magick of this Earth itself, the power of the queer collective
coming out to breathe fire and strength on us as we bring them into
being. These spells tap into our deepest selves with our most hidden
and archaic knowledge. This grimoire digs deep into your heart and
your soul to help you create things you have only dreamed of.
Spellcraft
is not a perfect art, and you are not a perfect person. Yet together,
you can move mountains.
About
the Author:
Cassandra
Snow (they/them/she/her) is a professional tarot card reader &
teacher, writer, and theatre maker in Minneapolis, MN. Cassandra's
writing focuses on tarot and Paganism, arts journalism, queer
lifestyle and personal storytelling. "Queering the Tarot"
is their first book and they was really excited to create an
accessible, inclusive text for learning tarot.
**
THE BIG
BOOK OF PAGAN PRAYER AND RITUAL
(Weiser
Big Book Series)
by
Ceisiwr Serith
Paperback :
336 pages
Publisher :
Weiser Books (November 1, 2020)
List
Price:$24.95
FROM THE
PUBLISHER:
~A
complete guide to the practice of prayer and ritual for Pagans of all
traditions.
Here is an
extraordinarily comprehensive collection of payers and rituals for
contemporary Pagans from a variety of traditions to turn to again and
again. The Big Book of Pagan Prayer and Ritual includes the
following:
The
role of prayer―yesterday and today
The
various hidden structures of prayers
How to
pray both with and without words
Rituals
for purification, creating sacred space, protection, prosperity,
good health, and more
Prayers
for specific times of day and special days of the month and year
Prayers
for life―from pregnancy to birth, childhood, first days of school,
weddings, aging, and death
Lists
of offerings, a glossary of deities from many traditions, and an
index of prayers by first line
About
the Author:
Ceisiwr
Serith (David Fickett-Wilbar) is a writer and teacher in the Pagan
community. His interest in prayers and rituals grew naturally as a
result of working in the Wiccan and Druidic traditions, as well as
writing books such as A Book of Pagan Prayer and Deep Ancestors:
Practicing the Religion of the Proto-Indo-Europeans. He is a member
of Ár nDraíocht Féin, a Druid fellowship, and is priest and
liturgist for Nemos Ognios grove in Durham NH. He has been published
in the Journal of Indo-European Studies and Proceedings of the
Harvard Celtic Colloquium.
**
THE
DICTIONARY OF DEMONS:
Tenth
Anniversary Edition-
Names of
the Damned
by M.
Belanger
Hardcover :
512 pages
Publisher :
Llewellyn Publications; Illustrated edition (September 8, 2020)
List
Price:$50.00
FROM THE
PUBLISHER:
Legions of
Demons Laid Bare New Expanded Hardcover Edition The Dictionary of
Demons is the single most comprehensive book on demons ever published
in the history of Western occultism. This limited-print-run,
tenth-anniversary hardcover edition includes more of the deeply
researched information that made the first edition a must-have for
demonologists everywhere. Within these pages you will discover more
than two hundred additional demons as well as new essays, appendices,
and more than fifty extra illustrations. With detailed notes on
select grimoires and other reference materials, this cross-referenced
alphabetical listing of more than 1,700 demons shares their duties,
appearances, and original sources. You will also discover author M.
Belanger's insightful essays on the roots of demonic names, exorcisms
in the ancient world, the gender of demons, the five-pointed star of
Baphomet, and much more. In its unmatched depth and breadth, The
Dictionary of Demons is an essential resource for serious students of
demonology and the occult.
This
premium-hardcover, limited edition of one the world's most important
books on demonology has been expanded to include even more
fascinating details about even more demons. Ever since the
publication of the original book, author M.A. Belanger has been
collecting material for this expanded, tenth-anniversary edition. The
addition of new articles, demons, appendices, and art make the
bestselling Dictionary of Demons into an even more comprehensive
resource.
You will
discover an expanded introduction, special extended articles, an
update to the Decans of the Zodiac, additional entries on demons that
were not previously included, and dozens of new illustrations. These
additions explore the roots of demonology, comparative mythologies,
and the influence of important source texts.
Review:
"The
Dictionary of Demons is a simply amazing compendium of infernal
information and graphics from around the world. In equal parts
scholarly and entertaining, you can use it as a reference tool or
just open it at random and get lost in fantastic new worlds. If
you're interested in Biblical studies, mythology, folklore, or
fantasy literature, The Dictionary of Demons is a must-have."―Richard
Kadrey, author of the Sandman Slim series
About
the Author:
M. Belanger
is an occult expert, educator, media personality, and author of over
thirty books on paranormal and occult topics. Founder and lead clergy
of the magickal group House Kheperu, Belanger is most widely
recognized for work as a psychic on A&E's Paranormal State and
Osbourne Media's Portals to Hell. Consulted for numerous
documentaries, books, and courses, Belanger has lectured on
paranormal and occult topics at colleges and universities across
North America and was a National Merit Scholar. A prolific and
versatile creator, Belanger has also contributed work to projects as
wide-ranging as Marvel AR, HBO's True Blood, CNN Headline News, CSI,
Nox Arcana, and multiple RPGs.
**
HASAN-I-SABAH:
Assassin
Master
by
James Wasserman, Tobias Churton (Foreword)
Hardcover :
440 pages
Publisher :
Ibis Press (September 14, 2020)
List Price:
$35.00
FROM THE
PUBLISHER:
This
publication includes the first English translation of the 1310
biography of Hasan-i-Sabah by Rashid al-Din: The Biography of Our
Master (Sar-Guzasht-i-Sayyidna)
Hasan-i-Sabah
was born in northern Persia around 1050 and died in 1124. He was an
Ismaili missionary (or dai) who founded the Nizari Ismailis after the
usurpation of the Fatimid Imamate by the military dictator of Egypt.
It may be said that Hasan founded and operated the world’s most
successful mystical secret society, while building a political
territory in which to maintain his independence. The small empire he
created would be home to him, his followers, and their descendants
for 166 years.
Today,
under the leadership of the Aga Khan, the Nizari Ismailis are one of
the preeminent Muslim sects in the world, numbering some twenty
million members in twenty-five countries.
The
medieval Nizaris were also known as Assassins or Hashishim. They
became embedded in European consciousness because of their contact
with the Knights Templar, and other Crusaders and visitors to the
Near East. Several Europeans reported back with strange (and largely
false) tales of the Assassins. In the fourteenth century, they were
widely popularized by the famed Venetian traveler and writer Marco
Polo in The Travels of Marco Polo. He added a whole new level of myth
in his account of the sect (included in this volume along with
extensive commentary).
Of greatest
interest is the idea that the Assassins were the spiritual initiators
of the Knights Templar. If this is true, Hasan-i-Sabah would be in
part responsible for the European Renaissance that would reclaim the
spiritual centrality of the Hermetic writings and the
Gnostic/Esoteric trends that continue to this day.
Essential
reading for an understanding of modern esoteric secret societies and
today’s headlines coming from the Middle East. Includes 9 maps.
About
the Authors:
- James
Wasserman is a lifelong student of esotericism. His writings include
The Mystery Traditions and Aleister Crowley and The Practice of the
Magical Diary. He lives in New York City with his wife, Nancy.
- Tobias
Churton is a writer and filmmaker, best known for his work on English
television's award-winning Gnostics series and the bestselling book
that accompanied it. Churton was also foundereditor of the
controversial Freemasonry Today magazine. He recently completed a
dramatic film on Elias Ashmole and the origins of Freemasonry, A
Mighty Good Man.
**
ESSENTIAL
TAROT WRITINGS:
A
Collection of Source Texts in Western Occultism
by
Donald Tyson
Paperback :
430 pages
Publisher :
Llewellyn Publications; Annotated edition (November 8, 2020)
List
Price:$29.99
FROM THE
PUBLISHER:
Presenting
invaluable essays written by prominent occultists from the 18th,
19th, and 20th centuries, this profound book explores the fascinating
evolution of tarot as a magical tool. Occult scholar Donald Tyson has
edited and annotated these important works so that you can understand
each occultist's message in the context of his peers and period.
Essential
Tarot Writings reveals where many of our fundamental assumptions
about the tarot came from, including card meanings, how it's used in
ceremonial magic, Hebrew and Kabbalistic correspondences, and more.
All of these essays are interconnected by the influences these great
thinkers had on each other and the understanding of tarot that
permeated each century. From Antoine Court de Gébelin and Comte de
Millet to P.D. Ouspensky and S.L. MacGregor Mathers, these titans of
esoteric tarot are brought together in one must-have collection.
About
the Author:
Donald
Tyson is an occult scholar and the author of the popular, critically
acclaimed Necronomicon series. He has written more than a dozen books
on Western esoteric traditions, including Tarot Magic, and edited and
annotated Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy. Donald lives in
Nova Scotia, Canada.
KABBALAH-
THE TREE OF LIFE ORACLE:
Sacred
Wisdom to Enrich Your Life
by
Cherry Gilchrist
Paperback :
144 pages
Publisher :
Eddison Books (September 1, 2020)
List Price:
$26.95
FROM THE
PUBLISHER:
This oracle
is based on the ancient Kabbalistic map of creation that dates back
at least a thousand years in the Jewish mystery tradition. The Tree
of Life is a sacred symbol in many cultures of the world, but here it
is used as a path to knowledge linking the twenty-two letters of the
Hebrew alphabet with the twenty-two paths of the Tree of Life and the
astrological houses.
Each
resulting word forms a rich and powerful wheel symbol that reflects a
segment of the tree, depicted on a card in the oracle deck. Follow
the reading sheet to lay the cards in the zigzag line of creation,
and consult the guidebook to receive guidance on any life issue. Both
the oracle and the tree are highly structured, and from this
framework of harmony comes wisdom that you will value forever.
About
the Author:
Cherry
Gilchrist is a writer and lecturer and a long-time participant in
Western traditions relating to Kabbala, meditation, and hermeticism.
She is a graduate of Cambridge University, UK, in English and
Anthropology, and holds a post-graduate diploma from the University
of Bath Spa in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology. As an author, Cherry
has published widely on mythology, traditional culture, and inner
traditions. She writes both for adults and for children, and has won
a UK Reading Award for her Calendar of Festivals. Her books include
The Elements of Alchemy, Stories from the Silk Road, The Circle of
Nine and Divination. Many of her titles have been translated into
other languages, including Italian, French, German, Spanish and
Portuguese.
**
THE
GODDESS TEMPLE ORACLE CARDS
by
Sarah Perini, Elena Albanese
Publisher :
Llewellyn Publications / Lo Scarabeo (September 8, 2020)
Boxed deck
(4 x 5¼) includes a deck and instructional booklet
List Price:
$19.95
FROM THE
PUBLISHER:
In the
Goddess Temple Oracle, each card is like a temple containing the timeless power of the goddess in her many facets. Designed to
incorporate the energetic significance of the turning of the wheel of
the year, these cards connect the reader to the wisdom of Welsh,
Cornish, and Celtic traditions. Featuring breathtaking art that
speaks to the deepest parts of your spiritual self, these cards can
inspire, warn, empower, and support you on your journey toward
becoming who you truly are.
Boxed deck
(4 x 5¼) includes a deck and an instructional booklet.
About
the Author and Illustrator:
- Sarah
Perini is an author based in Italy.
- Elena
Albanese is an Italian illustrator, author, and researcher. She
specializes in Paganism, the sacred feminine, world mythologies, and
animist spirituality. The Goddess Temple Oracle is her first oracle
deck.
**
SACRED
MOTHERS & GODDESSES:
by
Claudia Olivos
40 Oracle
Card Set With 180 page Guidebook
Publisher :
Blue Angel/Llewellyn Publications (October 8, 2020)
List Price:
$25.95
FROM THE
PUBLISHER:
Become
aware of your sacred femininity and attune to higher and deeper
vibrations of the Goddess through activities, dedications, altar
creation, and card layouts. Originally painted in oils on canvas,
Claudia Olivos's channeled images hold unique, powerful energy to
connect you with a sisterhood of deities for practical, loving, and
ageless knowledge. Turn to this oracle for daily guidance, support,
and a potent reminder of your valuable role in this time and in all
of eternity.
SERVICES
AVAILABLE AT EDGE OF THE CIRCLE BOOKS
REMINDER:
We buy used Occult Books! Our buyer is in on Wednesdays, Thursdays,
Saturdays, and Sundays!
We also
have classroom/ritual space-- please call for details.
Need Spell
advice? Just ask!
We
have Seattle's best Psychic Readers, in house, 7 days a week, from
2pm—8pm.
This
concludes our Newsletter for this month.
Look for
us again DECEMBER 1st, 2020!
Erica
(Raven) Branch-Butler, Editrix, Edge of the Circle Books Newsletter
golanv1@yahoo.com
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