SECTION II - BOOK REVIEWS
Wiccan Magick for Beginners by Lady Sabrina - Reviewed by ~ G. Rain
Wild Girls by Patricia Monaghan - Reviewed by ~ G. Rain
Pagan Internet Conference 2001 - Announcement by Umbria of PIC Team
Wiccan Magick for Beginners by Lady Sabrina
Reviewed by ~ G. Rain
Wiccan Magick for Beginners by Lady Sabrina is a perfect guide for those looking to learn basic
magick. This simple and informative book isn't about writing spells nor is it a book of spells. Instead the author cuts a new path explaining in detail Wiccan Magick itself.
Chapter one, " how magick works" pin points the mechanics of magick. Lady Sabrina defines magick as, " A process and a tool that can move or bend reality." In chapter two the author helps out beginners by explaining commonly used phrases. Saying, "When you enter any new field of studying, it is a good idea to learn the language used by those in the field." Chapters three and four cover the elements and ritual tools used in this craft. While chapter five, " the art of ritual" and six, " first steps in ritual" dissect ritual itself, from the reasons for doing ritual to planning and preparing for one step by step.
Although this book is about magick the author dedicates a chapter to the higher powers, which contains correspondences for specific deities and various pieces of information on each. She says, " It is important for us to learn to connect with these forces, or gods because we have been separated from them for too long. In essence, we need to become friends with the gods in order to share in their knowledge, wisdom, and power."
Tarot, moon magick and the Sabbats are also explained in detail each in a chapter of its own. The authors articulate writing style is filled with passion for the higher powers, and knowledge attained from many years of practice.
Wiccan Magick for Beginners is a powerful guide to magick but created with the beginner in mind so he or she can easily grasp the concept. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
Rating: 5 out of 5 wicked broomsticks.
Wild Girls by Patricia Monaghan
Reviewed by ~ G. Rain
Patricia Monaghan's book Wild Girls is a secret treasure. At first glance the reader encounters mythic stories from around the world but the author takes each story one step further. Created with young readers in mind Monaghan explains the moral of each myth and provides the reader with rituals and lessons that open the mind and soul.
As you travel thought this guide you will learn how to create a personal altar, meditate, mold a magical ritual, work with dreams, conjure healing charms, and that's just in the first few chapters! This book is a map that can guide you through an inner spiritual journey. Not only will you get to know the goddess but you'll get to know yourself on a deeper level.
The beauty of this book is that you don't have to read it in any specific order. However, I suggest that you don't rush through your reading, because in order to fully experience Wild Girls you must move slowly and reflect often. Otherwise the info goes in one ear and out the other.
Unlike other Goddess oriented books Wild Girls is specifically written with teen readers in mind. The author relates the Goddess stories to teen's everyday life; school, boyfriends etc. I think all young women should read this book, you don't even have to be
Wiccan. It's for people of all religions.
I'd also like to note that I enjoyed Ms. Monaghan's writing style. It was informative but at no point once so ever did she talk down to the reader. Wild Girls was written with love, you can feel it bouncing off each and every page. Makes a perfect Yule gift for the young women in your family or coven!
Patricia Monaghan makes my exclusive list of favorite authors. Take a look at Wild Girls it's a breath of fresh air, you'll love it, I did too! Wild Girls captured my heart and earns its high rating.
Rating: 5 out of 5 wicked broomsticks!
Pagan Internet Conference - 2001
Announcement by Umbria of PIC Team
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Speakers for December 2001
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Anodea Judith
Barbara Ardinger
Boudica
Debbie Michaud
Dorothy Morrison
Grey Cat
Laura Perry
M. Macha NightMare
Skip Ellison
Sirona Knight
Z Budapest
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Anodea Judith
Author of Wheels of Life: A User's Guide to the Chakra System and The Sevenfold Journey
She is a former president of the oldest incorporated Neo-Pagan organization, Church of All Worlds; founder of
Lifeways, a school for the study of healing and magickal arts; founding member of Forever Forests; and practicing therapist, educator, writer, and mother.
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Barbara Ardinger
Author of Goddess Meditations, Practicing the Presence of the Goddess : Everyday Rituals to Transform Your World, and Woman's Book of Rituals and Celebrations.
Barbara teaches writing classes, leads meditations, and writes articles for
soulfulliving.com, visionaryfiction.com, SageWoman, and PanGaia.
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Boudica
Co-owner and Reviews Editor of The Wiccan/Pagan Times.
Boudica is a Solitary Eclectic Wiccan, who has organized and promoted numerous events pertaining to the Pagan community. She is held in very high regards for her tremendous book reviews and articles, and is widely known as an excellent teacher.
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Debbie Michaud
Author of The Healing Traditions and Spiritual Practices of Wicca, a book published by Manor House.
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Dorothy Morrison
Author of Magical Needlework, Everyday Magic, In Praise of the Crone: A Celebration of Feminine Maturity, The Whimsical Tarot, and Yule, A Celebration of Light and Warmth.
Dorothy Morrison is a High Priestess of the Georgian Tradition, and she founded the Coven of the Crystal Garden in 1986. She enjoys computer networking, magical
herbalism, tarot, stoneworking, and magical needlecraft.
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Grey Cat
Author of American Indian Ceremonies written with Medicine Hawk, Pagan Manners or Are there any Dead Animals in the Soup?, Deepening Witchcraft, and Witches After 40.
Grey Cat is Founder of Northwind, A tradition of American Wicca. She has published Widely in Newage and Occult Periodicals including Circle Network news, Harvest and Cog News. She is a two time winner of the Silver Salamander Award for excellence in Journalism. She is Members' Advocate of Arn Draioncht Fein, and association of Neo-Druids; and the Editor of the Crone Papers. She is the author of a correspondence course, Herbs for Magick and Medicine. She has led workshops and rituals at a number of gatherings.
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Laura Perry
Author of Ancient Spellcraft: From the Hymns of the Hittites to the Carvings of the Celts.
Laura Perry has been active in the pagan community for about 10 years. She is a 3rd degree Wiccan priestess as well as a Celtic shaman and Area Coordinator for the Goddess 2000 Project, through which she is also known as Arachne
Gentleheart. Laura is also a professional naturopath and herbalist.
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M. Macha NightMare
Co-creator (with Starhawk) of The Pagan Book of Living and Dying and author of Wicca on the Web.
M. Macha NightMare, Priestess and Witch, has chosen to develop her skills as a collaborative ritualist and author as her contribution to our emerging Pagan culture. Macha holds Elder andministerial credentials through The Covenant of the Goddess
(CoG). She is a member of the Biodiversity Project Spirituality Working Group, and works with the Sacred Dying Foundation. Her magical practice is inspired by feminism and a concern for the health of our planet, and is informed by Celtic, Hindu and Tibetan practices, the sacred art of
tantra, and the magic of enchantment.
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Skip Ellison
Skip Ellison is the current Archdruid for ADF (Ar nDraiocht Fein). Skip is also Senior Druid of Muin Mound Grove,
ADF, one of our oldest and most vibrant Groves. He has also organised Muin Mound Madness -- a Pagan mini-festival, now in its third year.
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Sirona Knight
Author of Exploring Celtic Druidism, Moonflower, Dream Magic, Love & Sex Magick, Celtic Traditions, Celtic Spirituality and
Greenfire.
For over twenty years psychology, folklore, and spirituality have fascinated Sirona Knight, but her first love has always been the Earth-spirited tradition of the Goddess. She's a vegetarian and have been a Third Degree Craftmaster of the Celtic Gwyddonic Druid Tradition for over 13 years. She has been a Contributing Editor for Magical Blend magazine for the past 3 years and a featured writer for New Age Retailer and Aquarius magazines. She lives with her spiritual and writing partner, Michael, their son,
Skylor, their beagles, and a family of cats.
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Z Budapest
Author of The Holy Book of Women's Mysteries, The Grandmother of Time, Grandmother Moon, The Goddess in the Office, The Goddess in the Bedroom, and her latest, Summoning the Fates.
Today Z lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, traveling a lot, giving workshops and lectures, but always making time to smell the roses. She is the star of her own cable TV show called "13th Heaven" and acts as the director of the Women's Spirituality Forum, a nonprofit organization sponsoring a monthly lecture series in the Bay Area about the Goddess, spirituality retreats, and annual spiral dances on Halloween.
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Help us spread the word and tell everyone you know about the upcoming Pagan Internet Conference!
December 28, 2001
The 4th Pagan Internet Conference
The Pagan Internet Conference is a non-profit FREE event held online, in CYBERSPACE, and features outstanding pagan writers and website/organization founders as speakers. Meet Z Budapest, Dorothy Morrison, Barbara
Ardinger, Sirona Knight, M. Macha NightMare and more BIG pagan names!
Sound interesting?
Then please visit http://paganweb.net and SIGN UP NOW!! Additional information will be sent to you after you sign up.
