A bad witch's blog: review

Showing posts with label review. Show all posts

Thursday, 10 September 2026

Book Review: Dragons of The Deep, Origins & Lore

Dragons are the most iconic of fantastic creatures, found in mythology and folktales all over the world. A new book, Dragons of The Deep, takes a dive into these stories. It examines the ways in which these giant reptiles have symbolised everything from danger to protection, from harm to healing, and of course magic and power.

Author Dave Stone explores various theories about why dragons are so ubiquitous in legends and lore, despite never having existed except in human imagination and mysticism.

Here's the synopsis from publisher Moon Books' website:

"Dragons of The Deep investigates dragon myths and legends from Ireland, Scotland and across the globe, seeking to untangle their mythological threads. Seeding folkloric tales and ancient myths with a wealth of information, this book details various dragon cults, revealing that serpent and dragon worship were indistinguishable but follow similar tropes wherever they're found, proposing that the dragon is, perhaps, most iconically linked to the worship of water and, in turn with ancient animist worldviews. Dragons of The Deep addresses the reasons the dragon motif, as a uniting motif, speaks to us - not only as people borne by different tribal movements but also as a common humanity - exploring its relevance in today’s fast-paced, changing world."

This is a well researched and thought-provoking book about ancient mysteries and the wisdom. Dave Stone ends by pointing out that nowadays the dragon has become a symbol of the Earth and the environment. We can tap into that power to bring about magical change.

About the Author

Dave Stone runs a small craft business carving stone and has researched the historical and mythological subject matter from which he takes inspiration. You can find him on Instagram @stonemadcrafts. He also self-published a books titled Celtic Gods and Goddesses and Faeries of the Celtic Realms.

You can view Dragons of The Deep on Amazon.

(Please note: I earn commission from some links)

Friday, 26 June 2026

Book Review: Pagan Portals - The Wild Hunt

Fairy and folklore expert Morgan Daimler's latest book is on The Wild Hunt, and it's brilliant. I was delighted to read it before it's officially published next month.

The concept of a group of spectral horsemen and hounds swooping down from the sky in relentless pursuit of their prey, animal or human, is a topic that fascinates me both as a writer and a witch who might potentially be out in the wilds of nature at a time the Hunt is said to ride.

But what exactly is the Wild Hunt and who leads them? Well, there are many theories and many folktales from around the world that seem to fit the archetype, but are they the same phenomena or just similar?

The answer seems to be, no one quite knows, but this book offers an overview of the various entities that could be called by that name, or operate in a similar way. Morgan is renowned for her painstaking research into the topics of all her books, and this is no exception, but this new title in the Pagan Portals series far more than a scholarly exploration of folklore. It's also about how to deal with "the spirits who hunt the skies". It covers how to avoid them, how to work with them in pagan ritual as safely as possible, and even includes a guided visualisation to meet them.

Here's the synopsis of Pagan Portals - The Wild Hunt offered by Moon Books on the publisher's website:

"This book is an introduction to the Wild Hunt, the group of spirits which hunt the sky, heralded by the baying of hounds and the sound of horses' hooves in the air. With stories from across Europe and its history, the Wild Hunt is as intriguing today as it's ever been, and many modern pagans are drawn to learn about it and even interact with it. Here you will explore the history of the Wild Hunt and similar groups of spirits from Europe to the US, looking at who may lead the Hunt and what its wider purpose might be."

You can view Pagan Portals - The Wild Hunt on Amazon

(Please note: I earn commission from some links)

About the author

Morgan Daimler teaches classes on Irish myth and magical practices, fairies, and related subjects in the United States and internationally. She has been published in multiple anthologies as well as articles in various magazines, and she is one of the world's foremost experts on all things Fairy. Besides the titles available through Moon Books Morgan has a high fantasy novel 'Into Shadow' through Cosmic Egg and has an urban fantasy/paranormal romance series called Between the Worlds. Morgan has also presented papers on fairies and on fairies and witches at several university conferences.

Friday, 15 May 2026

Book Review: Witchitorium - A Glossary of Magic

Someone just starting to learn about witchcraft recently asked me where they could look up terms they came across. Luckily, I'd just seen a copy of Witchitorium - A Glossary of Magic, Witchcraft and Spirituality. I immediately recommended it.

Witchitorium is a new title by one of my fellow authors, Nixie Vale, and is published by Moon Books. It's a mini encyclopedia of esoteric facts. This is the official synopsis:

"A one-stop-space for all your witchy jargon needs! Whether you are new to witchcraft or an experienced veteran, at times there are words and terms that catch you off guard. Witchitorium brings together a diverse collection of terms that you may come across on your path through the craft to provide insight and understanding."

You might be asking why use a book rather than just look a term up online. Most of us Google stuff these days, and it's fast and easy. However, you can come across a huge amount of incorrect information there too - increasingly so in these days of AI overviews which notoriously struggles to differentiate between fact, fiction, or popular misconception.

Witchitorium, on the other hand is well researched and trustworthy. I'd say it's more aimed at beginner witches than those who've been practicing the craft for years, but can still be useful if you've specialised in one path of witchcraft but come across a more obscure term from another.

About the Author.

Nixie Vale is the creator of Ramblings of a Rainbow Witch. She began her spiritual path with Wicca, and has also studied a wide range of things from Ancient Egyptian, Ancient Greek, Ancient Norse and Ancient Roman beliefs and practices. She has also written articles for Magical Recipes Online, The Spooky Isles and others.

You can view Witchitorium on Amazon.

(Please note: I earn commission from some links)

Tuesday, 31 March 2026

Black Stars in Dim Carcosa: Necronomicon Field Notes

Why does anyone attempt the rites of Necronomicon, the madness-inducing grimoire first mentioned in the horror fiction of HP Lovecraft?

It's a question I've often asked myself. I've heard a few people talk about it in the past, from chaos magician Steve Ash to occulture scholar Dr Justin Woodman. I've also previously read a few books by ceremonial magicians, including Kenneth Grant and Donald Tyson.

The answers I got ranged from the lure of forbidden knowledge to actually wanting to bring about the end of the world. The first I kind of get, the second seems a daft act of nihilistic rebellion.

Nevertheless, I have a fascination with the Cthulhu Mythos, as it's called. I love the stories and have myself written scenarios for Chaosium's roleplaying game Call of Cthulhu, under the name Lucya Szachnowski. But I was still wondering why people don't simply appreciate it as fiction? Why attempt to contact - or bring into being - powers described as utterly inimical to humanity?

I've just read a new book called Black Stars in Dim Carcosa - Necronomicon Field Notes which fully explains the various approaches to it, and the reasons, with clear guides on how to do it without going mad or ending the world. Here's a description from author Marco Visconti's website:

"Black Stars in Dim Carcosa is the definitive Necronomicon field notes, the bridge between the book’s messy legend and the step-by-step reality of practice. [It] opens with the strange, contested story of the Simon Necronomicon and the postmodern current it helped catalyse, a volatile braid of Mesopotamian sorcery and the literary mythos of H. P. Lovecraft."

As Black Stars in Dim Carcosa explains, the Simon Necronomicon was the first non-fiction book that claimed to be the tome Lovecraft described. It wasn't. Instead, it was written later and inspired by the fiction, overlaying that onto traditional Mesopotamian deities and planets. It offered an initiatory system of ceremonies to walk through seven "gates" on a spiritually transformative journey. It also offered ways to contact the Ancient Ones of the Cthulhu Mythos.

I'll admit I've never read the Simon Necronomicon so I was fascinated to read Marco Visconti's description of it, commentary on how it works in practice, and guidance to: "What changes when you practice it with discipline rather than curiosity?"

Marco adds: "The first half [of Black Stars in Dim Carcosa] offers a clear, operational reading of the Seven Gates and the logic that drives them, then moves into step-by-step gatewalking as a repeatable method."

He goes into similar analysis of the other, later, occult grimoires and types of working that have been inspired by the Mythos. These are primarily:

Kenneth Grant's Typhonian Trilogies and other material, which "wove together strands of Thelema, Tantric and Qabalistic mysticism.
Polish occultist Asenath Mason's book Necronomicon Gnosis: A Practical Introduction.
Karl Stone's The Moonchild of Yesod: A Grimoire of Occult Hyperchemistry.

I found Marco's book fascinating. I absolutely loved it! Black Stars in Dim Carcosa is well written and engaging. It clearly explains and describes the different approaches and where they fit in to postmodern occult theory. If you want to work with the forces of the Necronomicon, I thoroughly recommend Marco Visconti's book as a helpful and common-sense companion on the potentially dangerous path. It's also worth reading if, like me, you're just curious.

But what are the sensible reasons one might choose to work Necronomicon rituals?

Well, facing one's fears and active taboo-breaking are initiatory techniques in many spiritual and magical traditions. Many chaos magicians work with fictional entities, saying they can be as powerful as more traditional gods, goddesses, and demons because of the belief invested in them. But what if the Ancient Ones are real? Well, in that case, learning about them in a managed and controlled way is perhaps safer than sitting around waiting until the stars are right.

At the end, Black Stars in Dim Carcosa offers another approach to Mythos magick apart from gatewalking or invoking entities. It's a Lost Carcosa guided visualisation, shaped around Hastur and the King in Yellow, which is a ruined city and it's mysterious ruler originating in the fiction of Robert W. Chambers.

Marco writes that integration is the point of the work. "Dread is treated as a way of knowing, and tangential tantrums as usable data, those sideways eruptions that may signal real contact, real risk, and, sometimes, real initiation."

I'll probably not do any of these magical workings. However, Marco points out: "Grant and those inspired by him often treat art, whether writing, painting, music, or even performance, as a magical act and a channel for the Nameless forces."

Grant believed that Lovecraft had in fact been inspired by those forces, even though the horror author didn't know it. Perhaps that's true for me too. Perhaps my own writing, fiction and roleplaying scenarions (pictured), are magical workings of a kind. That's certainly something to think about.

You can view Black Stars in Dim Carcosa on Amazon as well as on Marco Visconti's website, which I linked to earlier.

Please note: I earn commission from some links

Other previous related posts
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/05/books-aleister-crowley-manual-thelemic.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/08/necronomicon-lecture.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/10/review-grimoires-history-of-magic-books.html
https://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/10/god-of-week-dagon.html

Monday, 16 February 2026

Book Review: Heathenry for the Solitary Practitioner

Heathenry for the Solitary Practitioner is the new title from British author Thea Prothero. It's in Moon Books' Pagan Portals series, which offers brilliant introductions to esoteric topics and spiritual paths. As the subtitle suggests, this book offers advice and guidance for those who want to start practicing heathenry but are on their own.

Here's the synopsis from publisher Moon Books:

"Heathenry for the Solitary Practitioner offers solid, well-researched basic information to help you begin your Heathen journey - including key texts, historical context, rituals, the Gods, Runes, and everything else you'll need for building your practice. This book is intended for solitary wanderers. Whereas most books tend to focus on building strong kin and working in groups for worship and relationship-building, often leaving out those who wish to practice as individuals, this book aims to restore the balance, offering practical advice and guidance to those who work alone."

It's a really easy read and perfect for those just setting out on a heathen path. What I particularly like about it is that it offers case studies and interviews with different solitary practitioners, showing diversity in belief and activity. I also loved the fact that the book begins with a chapter called Heathen Women, explaining that this spiritual path isn't as patriarchal as popular history suggested in the past.

Other chapters cover the essentials of cosmology, gods and goddesses, the vaettir (or spirits), thoughts about ancestors, rituals, annual celebrations, and runes. At the end is a section on heathenry in the 21st century and lists of organisations you can join if you prefer to be a little less solitary.

If you are a novice Pagan who is interested in heathenry and wants to learn the basics, this book is recommended.

You can view Heathenry for the Solitary Practitioner on Amazon

Please note: I earn commission from some links

Monday, 29 December 2025

Occult Book Review: Pagan Portals - Chaos Magic

From Roman Saturnalia, to Tudor Revelries of Misrule, to the modern gap between Christmas and January when no one knows what day it is, but we're happy to drink Baileys for breakfast, this is the time of year for chaos. I decided to embrace the spirit of the season and read Pagan Portals - Chaos Magic, a book about manifesting your desires by throwing out dogma and making magic fun.

Actually, as an eclectic witch who honours Eris, Goddess of Chaos, I'm all for that at any time. However, I found this book a great reminder to clear the clutter of old ways of working, look at things with a fresh eye, and aim to start the New Year with a new attitude. Those are things chaos magic really helps with, as it offers oodles of techniques for embracing change.

Here's the synopsis of Pagan Portals - Chaos Magic from the website of publisher Moon Books:

Divided into two parts - Theory and Praxis - this book is a primer for those seeking to explore the philosophies of chaos magic, its principles and practical applications. In Part One, you'll learn to harness the power of intention, belief, and creativity not only to shape your reality according to your desires but also to decondition your mind, remove limiting beliefs, enter altered states of consciousness, achieve gnosis, and more. In Part Two, you'll learn to work with sigils, hypersigils, and magical entities, as well as explore powerful techniques, such as visualization and invocation, and the controversial realm of pop-culture magic. Presenting an understanding of the core concepts of chaos magic, this book provides insight into how to embrace chaos and unleash the mad scientist within. Your reality is yours to create.

The book is by Ivy Corvus, an American occultist who has been practicing chaos magic and other esoteric techniques for over 15 years. She's known on YouTube where she has cultivated a reputation as an experimental chaos magician. This is her first book, but it's extremely well written and easy to follow. Each chapter has practical exercises which build on each other. It's perfect for beginners who want to learn, but is also good as a refresher course for those with more experience.

You can view Pagan Portals - Chaos Magic on Amazon.

Please note I earn commission from some links.

Monday, 24 November 2025

Review: Prosperity Magic by Rachel Patterson

Many of us are feeling the financial pinch right now. Rachel Patterson, who writes Fate and Fortune magazine’s Witch That Gets You Rich column and is the author of the Kitchen Witch series of books, has penned a new book offering some magical help. It's called Prosperity Magic. It's full of spells that aim to boost your bank balance, decrease your debts, and bring you more of what you want in life.

Here's the synopsis from publisher Moon Books website:

"Abundance and prosperity can manifest in all kinds of ways - in the form of cold hard cash, or equally, in the form of friends, family, love, and happiness. Prosperity Magic provides a plethora of general magical suggestions, spell workings, tips, and correspondences for creating all kinds of prosperity, abundance, and money-making magic to enrich and enhance your life, as well as recover from debts, because sometimes we need that, too.
"All the spells are straightforward and uncomplicated, often using items and ingredients easily found in your home, kitchen, and cupboards. Money magic shouldn’t be complicated. It should involve simple steps for creating and manifesting the comfortable life you deserve, not just for you but also for those you care about - you deserve abundance in all areas of your life - make it happen!"

One of the things I love about the book is that it offers plenty of simple ways to work with the energy of the seasons. For example, several spells involve using autumn leaves, with their beautiful golden colours. Another shows how to manifest abundance while decorating your Yule tree. New Year's Eve is a traditional time for fortune-telling and scrying. Rachel offers some lovely methods of divining what riches the future could bring.

You can view Prosperity Magic on Amazon.

Please note: I earn commission from some links.

Monday, 10 November 2025

Book Review: A Guide to Reading the Runes

I've tried to learn to use runes for divination many times over the years. I've read books, gone to workshops, and tried doing readings using several sets. Although I'd had some success in the past, the practice never really gelled with me until I worked through A Guide to Reading the Runes. It's a new book by Laura Daligan, who I interviewed recently. I'd wanted to read her book and so eagerly borrowed it when I saw it on the shelf at my local library near one of my own books!

It worked. By that, I mean I found the way Laura described the history, legends and meanings of the symbols helped me get the same feeling when using them that I have with tarot. The runes really started to speak to me. I could sense a kind of energetic connection as I drew them from a bag, and the readings I am now getting are spot on.

This is what publisher Cico Books says on its website:

"Runes were the writing alphabet of the Norse people, but they are not just static letters: they are dynamic energies that can help you make sense of your past, present and future. In A Guide to Reading the Runes, Laura Daligan reveals how to work with these symbols to uncover a world of ancient knowledge.
"Learn about the runes’ connection to Norse mythology and what runes meant to the Norse people. Explore each rune in depth to find out its meaning and correspondences, and discover the art of divination using runes – how to read and interpret them for yourself and others. Finally, take your learning further – from healing rituals to anointing yourself with runic symbols, as well as making your own set of runes and seeking out runic associations in nature."

I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn to use the runes for divination or magic, a section in the back goes into that too. If you live in the London Borough of Bromley, remember you can borrow a copy from a local library once I've taken it back there! You may find copies in other libraries too. I loved this book so much I've put it on my Yule wish list and hope to get given a copy to keep.

You can view A Guide to Reading the Rune on Amazon

Tuesday, 14 October 2025

Review: We’Moon 2026 Calendar and Datebook

For several years now I've been using the We'Moon calendar and datebook - or diary - to keep track of what I'm doing. I got the 2026 editions recently and I'm already filling it up with events, talks and workshops for the year to come. But the We'Moon datebook is more than just something to scribble appointments in. It has astrological and moonphase information plus articles on topics including herb lore, holy days, tarot and women's spirituality.

Every year has a different theme, and for 2026 it's Full Circle. Every new year is a chance to return to the beginning of the wheel of the seasons, but the emphasis here is to mark important points in various other esoteric cycles too, including astrology, tarot and the full moon in lunar observations.

Circles also have other meanings, including our communities, our friends, our family, and the groves and covens we might celebrate with. The We'Moon datebook points out the importance of renewing our connection with those circles, because together we have more strength and support than we do alone. If you are a solitary pagan, the datebook shares rituals, prayers and poetry to help you celebrate the Wheel of the Year in full, and feel part of the We'Moon community.

The calendar and datebook share the same beautiful art - although much larger on the calendar of course. I always find the pictures inspiring to have on my wall, and I particularly like the ones I'll be seeing throughout 2026

I should perhaps point out that the We'Moon calendar and datebook are published in America, so some of the details on holidays and the like will be a bit different in other countries, but I know many of my readers are based in the USA. Here's the We'Moon website. You can also order from bookshops and pagan suppliers in Europe and the UK. There is a Spanish distributor, which can be contacted by emailing here: natalia@wemoon.ws

Saturday, 11 October 2025

Review: Dark Secrets - The Esoteric Exhibition

I went to see Dark Secrets - The Esoteric Exhibition at the Vaults, Waterloo, yesterday. It's huge, covering occult sciences, supernatural phenomena, ancient beliefs and esoteric doctrines from ancient times to modern day and from popular traditions to initiatory practices. It's visually impressive and atmospheric. I enjoyed it and I'm glad I went, but there are also some quite big criticisms I'd make.

Take the photo above, showing a corner of the room supposedly about ancient druids, yet stone circles and similar megalithic monuments predate the druids by about 2,000 years. The symbols on those representations of standing stones include Ogham, an ancient Irish alphabet which probably only began in the common era - the oldest known example is from about the 4th century. The poster on the wall has the title "Celtic Deities", yet the word "Celtic" is problematic. There was no unified pantheon of gods and goddesses across ancient Ireland, Wales, England, Scotland and Brittany. Cernunnos and Lugh were almost certainly not worshipped by the same people. In fact the term "Celtic" is mostly just concerned with a group of languages from those areas, including Brythonic and Goidelic, as well as some artistic styles.

I'll admit it's possible that information was provided somewhere. The lighting levels are so low that it was very hard to read all the labels. There is an audio guide, but it didn't cover those things.

Mind you, even the printed labels don't give as much information as I'd have liked. The exhibition supposedly has more than 1,000 authentic artifacts, but there's not enough information about the provenance. For example, I'd really like to know where that "Death Spell" doll's head was discovered, when, and in what collection it normally resides. I'd also like to know why it is considered to be an example of a genuine spell working rather than, say, the work of an artist or a theatrical prop.

The head itself is in a room entirely devoted to dolls, some of which are described as being used for cursing, and some as being haunted. As the author of a book on magical dolls, this interested me hugely, but I was underwhelmed by the lack of an information trail to follow up, and also the fact that the word "poppet" didn't appear anywhere, despite that being a historically correct term for magical dolls in English traditions. The word "fetish" appears in some descriptions, but that term was originally used for African objects rather than European ones.

I'm probably being much too critical about all this, I admit. Dark Secrets isn't intended as a scholarly exploration of esoteric practices, it's a tourist attraction aimed at the general populace rather than historians or students of the occult. My last photo is from near the end of the exhibition and shows spoons bent by Uri Geller in the 1970s. At least that label does explain that the supposed psychic's powers were never proven, and that his feats can be reproduced by stage illusion.

I'll end by repeating that overall, I enjoyed going around Dark Secrets. I discovered many things that I'd like to research further. If you want something a bit spooky to do with your friends at Halloween, then this exhibition is something I'd recommend. And if you happen to know more about the provenance of that doll's head, or agree or disagree with any of the points I've made, please leave a comment.

Dark Secrets: The Esoteric Exhibition is at The Vaults, Leake Street, SE1 7NN. It's open Wednesdays to Sundays. Tickets are from £21. https://darksecretsexhibition.com/london/

Tuesday, 30 September 2025

Review: A Traveler's Guide to Making Magic

Journeys can be exciting but they can also mean taking risks. Humans have historically called on sipernatural aid to protect them on their way, including wearing lucky charms and prayers for divine assistance. Modern witches use magical practices to help in all aspects of life, and travel is no exception. Lisa McSherry has written this book about just that, called A Traveler's Guide to Making Magic. In it she covers a wide range of spells to help you travel safely, whether your route is by land, sea or sky.

When I recently interviewed Lisa about her writing, she told me this is her personal favourite out of all her books. I was keen to read it from what she said. What I particularly like about A Traveler's Guide to Making Magic is that it's really comprehensive. Lisa not only provides a huge amount of magical information, she also offers practical tips for travellers and personal anecdotes based on her own extensive experience of visiting countries all over the world.

The description on publisher Crossed Crows's website says:

Travel puts us all in liminal spaces. But despite many practitioners’ affinity for spaces betwixt and between, they come along with practical and magickal dilemmas. A Traveler’s Guide to Making Magic provides templates and examples for practicing in a broad range of locations and circumstances. Pagans and witches alike will find utility in this book worth a spot in their suitcase.
A Traveler’s Guide to Making Magic explores the practical, the magickal, and the ethical of responsible and sustainable travel. Through travel-specific charms and spells, as well as divination for the path ahead, Lisa McSherry provides an experienced and insightful guide for modern practitioners seeking to incorporate a little bit of magick into their everyday journeys.

I very much applaud Lisa for emphsising ethical considerations when travelling, which includes being respectful of the environment, customs and cultures anywhere you visit.

You can view A Traveler's Guide to Making Magic on Amazon.

It was officially published this month and is available on the Crossed Crow website.

Note: I earn commission from some links.

Tuesday, 26 August 2025

Book Review: Hallowed Ground: The Folklore of Churches

In folklore, churchyards are as much a place to find spooky things as saintly things. This is what Hallowed Ground: The Folklore of Churches and Churchyards, by Mark Norman, is all about. It's just the kind of thing I enjoy reading.

As I'm a pagan witch, the chapter that most interested me was Magic and Witchcraft in the Churchyard. In it, Mark starts by mentioning what real witches and other magical practitioners might get up to there, including collecting grave dirt for spellwork. He writes

"In folk magic, the use of soil from a cemetery or graveyard has a long history across many cultures. There are suggestions from ancient Egyptian texts that it was used ritually, and it is widely used in Southern magical practices, such as Hoodoo, where “goofer dirt” refers to earth which has been removed from the grave of someone who was either considered to be powerful in some way or died under circumstances which would be considered to increase the power of a spell being undertaken."

Obviously, there are ethical issues surrounding this practice, but Mark points out: "Only small amounts are collected, and always with the utmost reverence, with offerings being required in return."

I'll add on a personal note that after visiting any sacred site, I have only ever collected earth that had naturally stuck to the soles of my boots, and which would otherwise have been wiped off on a doormat to stop it being trodden indoors. I've also respectfully given thanks to all spirits of the place.

Hallowed Ground shows there's an overlap between the Christian religion and magic. Many traditional cunningfolk identified as Christian and used Bible passages or the names of saints in their spells. There are also plenty of folkloric stories to connect witches to churches. Mark writes about the 14th century parish church of St Nicholas in Canewdon, Essex.

"The village of Canewdon has been connected with Witchcraft for a long time, and some of these connections reference the Church. Folklore tells us that six witches will always remain here. If a stone falls from the church tower, this signifies that one of the witches has died, but another has taken her place... The witches at Canewdon were said to have needed to circle the Church... to access certain powers. However, it was also said that if you did so at midnight, or on Halloween, then you might see the Devil, or be forced to dance with the witches themselves. Some even believed that the act would open a portal which could transport you to another place and time."

I now very much want to visit Canewdon and maybe give that a go.

These are just a couple of the fascinating entries in Hallowed Ground. It also covers such things as the purpose of gargoyles, grotesques, and pagan symbols found in churches; the folklore of plants and trees found in churchyards; meeting the Devil; and, of course, plenty of ghosts. I thought it was a very useful book full of fascinating information.

Hallowed Ground: The Folklore of Churches and Churchyards is published by Crossed Crow Books. You can also view the book on Amazon.

(Please note: I earn commission from some links)

Monday, 9 June 2025

Book Review: Pagan Portals - Feminist Witchcraft

Pagan Portals - Feminist Witchcraft is published this month, and it's very good. Susan Harper is both an academic cultural anthropologist and a longstanding practicing Feminist Witch. As the subtitle says, her book offers an introduction to this modern pagan tradition that puts all women at its core.

The first chapters clearly explain what Feminist Witchcraft is, what it's not, and how it's different from other spiritual and magical paths, including eclectic witchcraft and initiatory Wicca. It won't come as a surprise to many to learn that's because practitioners focus on working with goddesses, largely ignoring the gods. Susan Harper succintly explains the reasons for this, which make a lot of sense. It's empowering for people to honour deities that look like they do. Feeling empowered is an important aspect of the tradition.

But this path isn't just for women, it is for all who want to fight the patriarchy. The other vital strand of Feminist Witchcraft is politics - not necessarily party politics, but a recognition that everything one does in society is a political act. Feminist Witches aim to use their power, both magical and social, as a force for change.

Later chapters move on to practical matters - what witches do. This includes outlines of rituals, magick, spellcraft, how to work with the Wheel of the Year, and the phases of the moon. This is more aimed at complete beginners in my opinion, although if you're just starting out you'll find it an excellent set of basic instructions for things like circle work. Those already familiar with modern pagan witchcraft rites in general, will probably skim through and enjoy having a look to see what's different between Feminist Witchcraft and other ways of practicing.

Publisher Moon Books offers this synopsis on its website:

"Are you seeking a spiritual path that blends your love of the Earth, your yearning for magick, and your commitment to justice? Are you curious to know how collective power can change not only ourselves but also our world? Do you want to heal the damage that patriarchy does and then step into your power? Feminist Witchcraft is waiting for you. Across history, witchcraft has been about power - and our world needs empowered people more than ever. This book is here to guide your journey towards a more embodied, politically informed, authentic life. Tapping into our personal and communal power is transformational - both in caring for ourselves and each other and in using our collective will to create a more just and equitable world for all."

I very much enjoyed reading Feminist Witchcraft and will be adopting some of the techniques in my own practice in the future. I thoroughly recommend the book if you want to learn more about the topic, or if you are a witch who wants to do more to change the world.

About the author, Susan Harper

Susan Harper, PhD is an educator, advocate, activist, writer, and ritual specialist in the American Midwest. She holds a PhD in Cultural Anthropology from Southern Methodist University and an MA in Multicultural Women's and Gender Studies from Texas Woman's University. She has been researching and writing about Feminist Witchcraft, Goddess Spirituality, Tarot, and ContemporaryPaganism for more than 30 years.

You can view Pagan Portals - Feminist Witchcraft on Amazon. Please note I earn commission from some links.

Thursday, 15 May 2025

Book Review: Paid with a Kiss - Fairy Connections

Paid with a Kiss is the latest title by fairy lore specialist Morgan Daimler. It explores relationships and sexual connections between humans and fairies across time.

Here's the synopsis from publisher Moon Books:

"Paid with a Kiss gives a wide-ranging look at fairies, sex, gender, and human belief through history in Western Europe, focusing primarily on Irish, UK, and French evidence. By examining mythology, folklore, literature, and anecdotes, this book answers common questions of what we know about sex and sexuality among fairies and how they interact with humans, including human-fairy relationships and offspring. Aiming to answer an array of questions on humans, fairies, and intimacy that the author has been asked over the years, Paid with a Kiss is a deep dive into nearly two millennia of folk belief."

I always look forward to reading anything by Morgan Daimler, because I know it will be well researched and brilliantly written. This book is no exception. It offers a wonderful insight into how our views of romance, sex and marriage with otherworldly beings has changed over the centuries, as well as looking at gender-related issues.

As Morgan Daimler writes: "Sex and love with fairies is a risky business." Some fairies are depicted as "implicitly sexual and deadly by nature", such as the Leannán sidhe, which translates as "fairy lover". WB Yeats depicted the Leannán sidhe as a dark muse who inspired poets but shortened their lives. However, they are referenced as far back as the 10th century, and Paid with a Kiss delves into older folk beliefs. Earlier accounts show them helping warriors in battle, and being familiar spirits offering supernatural aid and magical knowledge, as well as sometimes taking their partners to Fairyland.

That's just one example. Chapters look at literary sources, early modern fairy lore, how the Victorians changed how fairies were viewed, 20th and 21st century depictions, and encounters with them. At the end there's a discussion of questions that frequently get asked, including whether oral sex with a fairy constitutes the much-warned-against sharing food and drink. The answer is: probably not, but you might choose to be cautious anyway.

About the author

Morgan Daimler teaches classes on Irish myth and magical practices, fairies, and related subjects in the United States and internationally. She has been published in multiple anthologies as well as presenting papers at university conferences as an expert on all things fairy. Besides the titles available through Moon Books, Morgan has a high fantasy novel Into Shadow through Cosmic Egg and has an urban fantasy/paranormal romance series called Between the Worlds.

You can find Paid with a Kiss at publisher Moon Books' website (linked to earlier), and view it on Amazon.

Please note I earn commission from some links

Thursday, 24 April 2025

Book Review: Pagan Portals - Magick for Empaths

Our world desparately needs more empathy. We're living at a time when the needs of others, especially those less fortunate than ourselves, are being ignored. Selfishness rules, at least in some places, and for some people.

Natural empaths - those who are highly sensitive to the emotions of others - have a great gift. However, they are also people who can sometimes be taken advantage of, simply because they are caring and want to help. Pagan Portals - Magick for Empaths, a new book by Raven Digitalis, offers guidance to empaths to help them protect themselves and also make the most of their abilities in witchcraft and other magical practices.

The synopsis from publisher Moon Books reads:

"Empaths have a unique vantage point when it comes to magickal and metaphysical work. Although sometimes overwhelming, empathy, the experience of stepping into the emotions of another, is actually of great spiritual benefit.
"In Pagan Portals: Magick for Empaths, award-winning author Raven Digitalis explores: the spiritual significance of empathy, as well as its biological and evolutionary forces; overcoming empathic challenges and emotional overload; grounding, protection, and shielding; spellcasting techniques and magickal tools for empaths; balancing emotion and cognition; daily energy maintenance; approaching mystical realms as an empath; flow states and artistic expression; connecting with the water element; and so much more…"

Being able to tap into the feelings and emotional energy of people and places is an important skill for all witches to learn. It's vital for what's called the "inner work" of both spiritual and magical practices. Simply reciting words and performing actions isn't as effective as sensing how the energy is flowing and what it feels like. I'll admit I'm personally more a thinker and a doer than an emoter by nature, but this book has reminded me of the importance of empathy - not only for spellcraft, but also for making the world a kinder, more loving, place for everyone.

You can view Magick for Empaths on Amazon and find it at independent pagan bookshops

About the Author

Raven Digitalis is best known for his “empath’s trilogy,” consisting of The Empath's Oracle, Esoteric Empathy, and The Everyday Empath, as well as the “shadow trilogy” of A Gothic Witch’s Oracle, A Witch's Shadow Magick Compendium, and Goth Craft. Originally trained in Georgian Witchcraft, Raven has been an earth-based practitioner since 1999, a priest since 2003, a Freemason since 2012, and an empath all of his life. He holds a degree in cultural anthropology from the University of Montana, jointly operated a nonprofit Pagan temple for sixteen years, and is also a professional Tarot reader, editor, card-carrying magician, and animal rights advocate. You can find his website here: www.ravendigitalis.com

Monday, 24 March 2025

Book Review: Witchcraft - A History in 13 Trials

My local library in Beckenham has a very good collection of books in the paranormal section. I recently borrowed and read Witchcraft - A History in 13 Trials, an excellent history book by Marion Gibson. This is what publisher Simon and Schuster says on its website

In Witchcraft, Professor Marion Gibson uses thirteen significant trials to tell the global history of witchcraft and witch-hunts. As well as exploring the origins of witch-hunts through some of the most famous trials from the Middle Ages to the eighteenth century, it takes us in new and surprising directions.Three women were prosecuted under a version of the 1735 Witchcraft Act as recently as 2018.

I've read quite a few books on the history of witchcraft and witchcraft trials in the past. This one is quite possibly my favourite so far. It covers some famous cases, such as the trial in North Berwick in which women were accused of plotting against the protestant King James VI of Scotland, and the trial of Tatabe in Salem. But it also includes several I was less familiar with, such as the trial of Helena Scheuberin. This is the first case covered in the book, and took place early in the career of witchhunter Heinrich Kramer, author of the infamous Malleus Maleficarum. Helena was wealthy enough to hire a good lawyer who got the case thrown out. Sadly, many other women who Heinrich Kramer targetted were less fortunate.

What I like about Witchcraft - A History in 13 Trials is that it emphasises how the victims of witchcraft persecutions have nearly always been those with least power in society: particularly women, but also ethnic minorities, the disabled, and the poor. Some of those accused did use folk magic, or were midwives or healers, but many weren't. Scapegoats were often sought in times of economic, religious, and political upheaval. Marion Gibson shows how, even in the 20th and 21st centuries, accusations of witchcraft have taken place and continue to do so.

I feel this is an important and valuable book to read for anyone with an interest in witchcraft, minority rights, history, and even current world news. Why not pop into your local library and see if you can borrow a copy, like I did.

About the Author

Marion Gibson is Professor of Renaissance and Magical Literatures at the University of Exeter, UK. She is the author of seven academic books on witches in history and literature: Reading Witchcraft; Possession, Puritanism, and Print; Witchcraft Myths in American Culture; Imagining the Pagan Past; Rediscovering Renaissance Witchcraft; Witchcraft: The Basics and, with Jo Esra, Shakespeare’s Demonology. Marion has also edited five books for publishers such as Routledge and Ashgate, published around twenty chapters and articles, and she is general editor of the series Elements in Magic for Cambridge University Press. Witchcraft: A History in Thirteen Trials is her most recent work.

Other Prevous Related Posts

http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/01/authors-2025-plans-julia-phillips-on.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/09/review-troubled-by-faith-insanity.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2013/02/review-america-bewitched-witchcraft.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/06/review-queens-of-wild-by-ronald-hutton.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2019/09/thomas-waters-on-cursed-britain.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/08/review-witch-history-of-fear-by-ronald.html

Thursday, 27 February 2025

Book Review: The Practical Guide to Dowsing

When I visited my local newly refurbished library earlier this month I borrowed The Practical Guide to Dowsing by Dr Patrick MacManaway. My dad taught me to dowse when I was young, but it never hurts to have a refresher or read other people's views on a topic. What's more, I recently bought a new pendulum so thought this book would prompt me to use it more. I also thought I'd review the book on my blog.

The Practical Guide to Dowsing was published by Lorenz Books in 2013, so it's relatively old. That doesn't matter because it's still worth borrowing from a library, especially if you're looking for a book that teaches the basics. There's nothing wrong with reading a good older title.

I should start by saying the book focuses on using dowsing to benefit health and wellbeing from an MBS perspective, touching less on witchy aspects until the end.

Dr Patrick MacManaway explains that dowsing helps us use our "sixth sense", bridging the gap between the rational and the intuitive. He writes: "This book is an invitation to explore a uniquely personal...path to...health. It will guide you in opening and cultivating a dialogue with your inner self."

He uses the word "health" to mean mental, social, and spiritual wellbeing as well as physically being fit. This he describes as a holistic approach, and emphasises the importance of learning to trust our inner self and its wisdom.

The book goes on to explain: "The basic process of dowsing involves asking a question and is generally used to discover information." Often this is stuff we're not consciously aware of or don't know. Dowsing is most frequently used for questions that require a yes or no answer, unlike Tarot, for example. The book states that we also need to remain alert and exercise reason, rather than using a pendulum to make all of our decisions for us.

The most popular dowsing tools these days are pendulums, but I was pleased to see that the book includes the use of rods, forked twigs, and bendy wands. Pretty much anything attached to a string or chain can be used as a pendulum, including rings and keys as well as crystal pendants or specially created devices.

You start by holding a pendulum chain between your thumb and first finger, then ask "what motion means yes", then "what motion means no". After that, ask any question that can be answered by yes, no, maybe, or unknown. L-shaped rods are best for searching for things, traditionally including earth energy at sacred sites. The book explains how to do this, and brought back memories for me of dowsing for ley-lines with my dad on holidays in my youth.

A small section discusses divining or water-witching. This is the practice of using dowsing equipment to find undergrounds sources of water. This technique has been used historically to find wells, but can also be used to search for other things buried underground. At the end, the book includes ways of using the cyclic chart of the Wheel of the Year and the cycle of life to ask questions about where an issue we are dealing with might be stuck. Personally, this was the part that interested me most and I'll be using my new pendulum to try that out.

You can view an newer edition of The Practical Guide to Dowsing on Amazon as well as possibly borrow a copy from your local library.

Please note: I earn commission from some links.

The picture at the top is a photo of The Practical Guide to Dowsing with the pendulum I bought at the College of Psychic Studies

Other previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/10/using-pendulum-as-divination-to-make.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/04/craft-making-divining-rods-from-twigs.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/10/divination-dowsing-rods-that-found.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/04/spells-and-divining-to-find-lost-things.html

Thursday, 16 January 2025

Book Review: Pagan Portals - Circe Goddess of Sorcery

Here's another brilliant book by Reclaiming tradition teacher and author Irisanya Moon on a fascinating topic: Circe - Goddess of Sorcery. It's in Moon Books' Pagan Portals series, which offer short introductions to esoteric subjects, but packs a wealth of information into 88 pages.

Like most people, I mainly knew of Circe from The Odyssey. I've long felt her to be a wonderful depiction of a strong and powerful woman, as well as a goddess figure. I blogged about her back in 2009 after seeing a play based on Homer's tale. The painting Circe Offering the Cup to Ulysses by John William Waterhouse was also part of the 2022 British Museum's Feminine Power exhibition, and you can see it here.

I read this new book on Circe to learn more - and I wasn't disappointed. Irisanya Moon covers references to her in classical and modern literature as well as ways to honour and work with Circe as a goddess and archetype. This includes visualisations, spells, dreamwork and herb lore.

The synopsis on Moon Books website says

"Meet Circe, feared goddess of Homer's Odyssey, who used her knowledge of nature and sorcery to transform those who displeased her into animals and monsters. Author Irisanya Moon reveals the Goddess in her ancient Greek context, and offers unique insight to and explanations of her relationships, deeds, and desires while offering practical advice on how to meet with this engaging Goddess today."

I'm delighted to have read the book and recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about Circe and work with her in a pagan spiritual practice.

Where to find Circe - Goddess of Sorcery

You can find Circe - Goddess of Sorcery at Moon Books, which is part of Collective Ink: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/moon-books/our-books/pantheon-minoans.

At the moment, you can take advantage of the publisher's winter e-book sale on all titles and get 50 per cent off using the code WINTER50. See the picture below for full details on how to do this.

You can also view the book on Amazon. (Please note I earn commission from some links)

Other previous related posts

http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/01/a-big-milestone-for-my-book-on-scrying.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/08/book-review-pagan-portals-norns.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/01/book-endorsement-earth-spirit-honoring.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2025/01/authors-2025-plans-laura-perry-on.html

Friday, 27 December 2024

Book Review: Ness Bosch on my Gothic Novel Erosion

Witch and author Ness Bosch has written a lovely review of my Gothic novel Erosion and asked me to share it on A Bad Witch's Blog:

Erosion is a great read. Lucya weaves a colourful story with great characters and the bittersweet emotional turmoil of the drama. Yes you need to get the bigger picture at the beginning, once you have it, it flows like water.

No only is it engaging but Lucya manages to transport us back in time, to younger years, to the intense emotions, the frustrations, the bravery, the fears. That is pretty good already, but on top of that is the magic inside the book, the mystery, I would say beyond Gothic. I see proper Necromancy in these pages. I even loved the name of the ghost.

So if you are in for a good story and you are fond of magic, this book is a win win. Erosion is full of spirit, it's bubbly and without realising, you will get to the end and will want more. I'm truly looking forward to read what's happening next.

Ness Bosch is the author of Sacred Bones, Magic Bones: Stories from the Path of the Bones

Get 50 per cent off Erosion and my other books

Erosion is published by Moon Books which is part of Collective Ink. The company is offering 50 per cent off all e-books until December 31st, including mine. All you need to do is:

Click here > https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com
Choose your e-book(s)
Click 'Add to basket for direct download.'
Click on your shopping basket
Click on 'Do you have a coupon?'
Apply promo code WINTER50 and Validate.
Proceed to Checkout.

If you want to search for my books, you can go straight to my Lucya Starza author page. I've written on candle magic, poppets, guided visualisations, scrying and the wheel of the year as well as my novel Erosion. You can read an excerpt from Erosion here: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/10/seance-with-skull-from-my-gothic-novel.html

Thursday, 19 December 2024

Book Review: The Magic of the Seal

Seals are beautiful creatures that can often be seen on the coast of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. I often visit the Sussex coast where I have seen them at a distance, posing in that banana-shape that helps them keep warm in the sun. Wishing to learn more about their lore, I was delighted to be gifted a review copy of The Magic of the Seal by Melanie Godfrey.

It's a charming book, in two parts. Part I focuses on myths and legends of the shapeshifting selchie. Part II focuses on connecting to the spirit of the seal. In the last chapter Melanie shares her experience of rescuing a three-day old pup in Cornwall's Boscastle harbour.

It's clear Melanie has done lots of research into what's been said and published about seals and their folklore. This includes studying scholarly writing as well as talking in depth with traditional storytellers. She also shares her personal experience of working with seals and their spiritual energy in magical and religious practice. The Magic of the Seal offers guided visualisations, altar creation tips, and more to connect with the spiritual power of seals.

Publisher Moon Books offers this description on its website:

"This book will take you on a journey to awaken a spiritual relationship with the seal, familiarizing you with the seal’s anima as well as its history with the Gaelic ancestors of the British Isles. The Clan of the Seal on North Uist, and the traditional oral storytellers, were the transmitters and custodians of folklore, who told tales about the kindly selchie and revered seals as sacred, akin to their own family. The gentle seal will help reclaim what is lost within as we remember our Celtic heritage and identity in this fragile world. Seal lore teaches valuable lessons in integrity and kindness, and ignites our imagination, leading us to the seal’s inner landscape of presence and peace - inevitably towards our own inner peace."

Author Melanie Godfrey lives in Cornwall. She is a qualified Therapeutic Counsellor and studying the Druid grade with the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids.

I previously posted an extract from The Magic of the Seal and you can find it here: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/07/book-extract-magic-of-seal.html

You can view The Magic of the Seal on Amazon. (Please note I earn commission from some links.)

Get The Magic of the Seal at 50 per cent off

Publisher Moon Books, which is part of Collective Ink, is offering 50 per cent off all e-books until December 31st. All you need to do is:

Click here > https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com
Choose your e-book(s)
Click 'Add to basket for direct download.'
Click on your shopping basket
Click on 'Do you have a coupon?'
Apply promo code WINTER50 and Validate.
Proceed to Checkout.

Other Previous Related Posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/04/sea-magic-extract-from-erosion-my.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/02/a-book-for-lupercalia-wolf-untamed.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/10/book-pagan-portals-artio-and-artaios.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/08/art-and-writing-coastal-erosion-and.html

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