Editorial Review

From John O'Donohue, poet, philosopher, and scholar, comes a moving introduction of Celtic insights, stories, and teachings, hailed by Deepak Chopra as a "powerful and life-transforming experience". ... Read more

Reviews

Poetic, Educational & Soul absorbing, September 16, 1999
The magic about this book is that it centers completely on the definition of the human experience and all the emotions that it entails. In addition it gives us guidelines usually through poetic pieces and beautifully scripted prose on dealing with many of life's issues.

I read most of this book on a flight back home to Ireland. I just couldn't put it down. As cynical and routine that life sometimes appears each of us has a yearning to break the mold, break the routine and deep down find our way, our reason for being on this earth. O'Donohue reminds us regardless of who we are and what the material world values us at - our soul has a yearning to belong and live life spontaneously and to avoid the clutter of routine and the depression of complacency.

There are important lessons in this book on the areas of love, death, belonging, depression etc. Finding your significant other for example is something that happens through fate. Death should be celebrated for the life that it gave an individual and the journey it now presents to the soul. Depression should be addressed not through constant interactions with pyschologists, who yes help, but confronting that which caused the depression in the first place and absorbing it as a strength rather than a weakness.

I was in Ireland for a funeral, which though a sad event, i left feeling happy - This book reminded me of what a great gift life really is.

Each sentence is a ponderable morsel., May 9, 1998
Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom is truly a work of art. Over the past three years, I have been working on discovering myself through self-help books, 12-step programs, religious study, and personal introspection. This book summed up everything I have learned (the hard way) during this time, and presented it in a beautiful package that was invigorating and thought-provoking to read. It was a pure joy. I began reading it in January, and have only just finished it last night, because each sentance was a ponderable morsel. Sometimes I would read a phrase five times over in order to fully grasp and apply it's meaning to my life. This is not a 70 mph trip through the McDonald's drive-thru, this is a seven course meal in Vienna, and every bite demands that you hold it in your mouth to savor it.

Anam Cara is one of the best non-fiction books I have ever read. I plan to read it again in a year or so, because I know I will get new things out of it. I am already loaning it to a friend, and have a couple of others in mind I'd like to loan it to. I can't keep this from the ones I love.

Colors are the wounds of light, February 16, 2002
In the Prologue, the author describes this book as "a phenomenology of friendship in a lyrical-speculative form." That is exactly what it is. It is one of the most compelling and lyrical works that I have read. It describes the "soul-friend" but more significantly it actually suggested the possibility of me becoming my own soul's friend. It is a powerful book, weaving Celtic mystical thought with a very accessible form of approaching self and soul -- all done in a rich, poetic language. It reads very well and John O'Donohue's erudition, poetic language and abiding compassion radiate every page.

This book gave me strength and deep insight at a time when I was searching for both of these. I greatly appreciate this book's contribution to my own understanding of self and highly recommend it to you if, like me, you recognize that you are on a spiritual journey.

Hard to summarize, easy to read, challenging to ponder, October 12, 2004
This book's best taken in small doses, a few paragraphs at a time. Each chapter's broken up into such sections, ideal for guiding meditation or inspiring reflection. It's a volume I gave away as a gift and re-purchased for myself after I read it, knowing that I'd return to its contents again and again. O'Donohue's learned much from those with whom he lives and talks and ministers, and his frequent interspersions of Celtic tradition and current Irish-language proverbs and observations attest to the continuity of the Gaelic worldview within the larger Anglo-American hegemony that dominates our lives.

One of the best recommendations for this guide is its refusal to romanticize the rural and rooted tradition's hardships as well as its comforts. The author comes from the people he writes about, and this grounding keeps his suggestions--however philosophical they may soar--concise, honest, and free of cant. The respect for the life lived under the radar and the flyover culture by those committed to the land energizes these stories. Mixing tales and legends and theology from the Irish perspective with contemporary analogies, incidents, and insights, this book somehow avoids touchy-feely simpering or wishful fairie musings.

It's appropriate for those of any faith, any skeptic, or any with spiritual longing. Written by a priest, but never limited to a Christian presentation, the transparent ecumenism of the author's approach speaks to any reader wondering about the Big Questions. Humbly, eloquently, and frankly, it's like having a personal confessor or soulmate with whom you can sit and listen companionably. There's no sloganeering, no ten steps to salvation in ten minutes a day, and no assurances of glib piety. With an open-hearted wonder, serious but never glum intelligence, and a generous capacity to listen to others and to nature, the wisdom distilled by the author here issues gradually, to be sipped rather than gulped. Antidotes for our fast-food generation, which will only work their healing power if we follow the prescriptions and elixirs gathered in its pages.

I am found, November 8, 1999
As souls we explore life alone--and this has broken a lot of people, made them hurful and angry, sad. But still there has always been this need to express myself completely, to find those correct words, that absolute means of bridging all that separates me from another human being... It was a joy to have been recommended to this book, to see and think and reflect on where and how, why and for whom we can suffer so much alone when all we need to is express... A fantastic book, and one that I will share as a treasure not only as a tool for insight into my own soul, but as a gift to all of the special people in my life. It is a book about loving. Excellent!

This book is the best one i've read in a LONG time, November 14, 1999
This book is a must read...i don't know how else to put it. It is full of wisdom and enlightenment, just reading it made me start feeling better about myself and my life. The poetry is beautiful. Even if you aren't interested in the celtic way of life, it will open you up to a whole new look on yourself and your life.

Unbelievably Enlightening, April 26, 2003
Powerful, insightful and incredibly thought provoking. I have read many books on celtic wisdom and spiritual enlightenment, and have come across nothing like this. It opens the mind and body to the heart and soul, it encourages you to look within, not without, to improve yourself, and although this books does not make you do anything, it almost forces you to take a damn good look at yourself and really assess everything you think you are. You will be surprised at the results you get!
There are so many self help books out there, but none come close to this! Well worth every penny, and please take time to read it, and read it over and over again, each time will show you something new. My copy is full of notes in the margin, underlined phrases or paragraphs, and serves as a useful place to turn when life gets you down!
I think the only thing I didn't like was the slightly Christian accent from the author's point of view, especially as it relates to the Celts. This is not a big deal and can be overlooked for the quality and insight of the writing itself.

The Philosophy, Poetry and Spirituality of Life, September 8, 2007
John O'Donohue's best-selling "Anam Cara" is one of the most profound books I have read this year and is a must read for those searching for the deeper meaning of life, purpose and eternity. "Anam Cara" (soul friend) is a rare synthesis of philosophy, poetry, and spirituality with O'Donohue moving your mind, heart and soul on every page. He has packed so much into this book that you may, as I did, want to read just few pages a day.

O'Donohue integrates philosophy, poetry, and spirituality as he reveals the mystery of friendship, the spirituality of the senses, the importance of solitude, the poetry of work, the beauty of aging, and our daily companion, death. You will be rewarded with uncommon wisdom and unique insights on each topic.

On friendship, O'Donohue speaks to the circle of belonging, love being the nature of the soul, and the soul being the divine echo.

On the senses - the holiness of the gaze, listening as worship, the language of touch, and the body being both the angel and mirror of the soul.

On solitude - the world of the soul is secret, transfiguring the ego is to liberate the soul, the natural is to be holy, and one of the greatest sins is the unlived life.

On work - the expression of the soul, weakness and power, the false trap of belonging, work and imagination, and how heartful work brings beauty.

On aging - time as a circle, our harvest, memories, passion and aging, wisdom as poise and grace, and the freedom aging brings.

And death - the unknown companion, the faces of death in everyday life, death as the root of fear
the dead are our nearest neighbors, birth as death, and how the dead bless us.

"Anam Cara" is a beautiful book that will increase your understanding of yourself, your relationships, the world around you, and how we relate to the divine in all aspects of life.

Warmth of a Celtic hearth, December 16, 2006
Having some time and quietude during a recent power outage, I read this work again, and, in a time of some confusion and lack of direction, it was like holding the hands up to a hearth-fire. O'Donohue's lyrical skill with the pen, combined with some deep and personal convictions artfully unfolded, works to make this a book of prose nearly poetry. With all the Irish way with words, he wraps his ideas in beautiful language. While it is occasionally hard to get to the meat of what he has to say, this book encourages reading in an open, heedful way, as one would read poetry, letting the message sink in over time, rather than bringing a too-harsh (neon, as he himself would have it) light of ungraceful logic to passages which are constructed to enter by the way of beauty, rather than that of cut-and-dried science.

I find O'Donohue's ideology very refreshing, as it is a glimpse of the fast-fading Irish spirituality, deeply Christian and theocentric in the beliefs laid down by Patrick, but still finding expression through the poeticism of ancient Celtic religion. Far from the lack of reverence and respect toward the Christian world which is found in the reconstructed realm of Celtic paganism, this worldview is whole and confident in itself, the way of a people for a long time, and not manipulated to fit one's own spiritual self-satisfaction. While I do not agree with everything I read here, it is because I come from another tradition, and I think that every Christian will find inspiration in the ideas here which transcend tradition and upbringing. And by no means are these words exclusive for Christians, either.

Highly recommended, however not to be read as an insensitive factfinding-tour. Such is not the way of the intuitive Celtic mind.

wonderful, articulate, compassionate and thought provoking, July 14, 1999
This book 'found' me at the airport while leaving for vacation - what a gift! Mr. O'Donohue conveys thoughts and feelings in such an articulate, eloquent way. It is a nonjudgemental exploration and celebration of the spirituality that lies within all of us. I would highly recommend this to anyone who thinks about and feels a sense of spirit but doesn't know how to talk about it with someone. This book moved me and touched me deeply. You'll read it more than once. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Packed with an astounding array of content, it's no wonder Llewellyn's Witches' Calendar is the top-selling calendar of its kind. Get inspired by unique and provocative in-depth articles. Take advantage of astrological data and other practical information to plan rituals. And delight in each month's enchanting original artwork. This year's edition features articles on fairy magic, crafting your future, night magic, the sacred South, Diwali, cat and dog magic, floralia, earthworm totem, talking to trees, and more.

Reviews

llewellyn calendar, September 23, 2010
I love this calendar.. I have been buying this for my sister for the holidays for over 10 years, and this year I bought one for myself too.. very nice, very colorful with pertinent information pertaining to certain months and the feasts.. very informative.

Wonderful Company, November 13, 2010
My order was received post haste. Exactly what I ordered and Amazon.com had it slightly cheaper than on Llewellyn's website.... sssshhhh don't tell anyone..... Thanks to both companies for handling material that a lot of bookstores wouldn't have.

Llewellyn's 2011 Witches Calender., October 8, 2010
This calender has information everyone can use. It is well worth your time and money. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Llewellyn's 2011 Witches' Datebook is perfect for the busy Witch on the go. An appointment book, calendar, and magical reference all rolled in one—this practical datebook will help you align your life with the Wheel of the Year. Packed with Sabbat
recipes, Moon rituals, tips on using magical herbs, Sabbat musings, and astrological information, you'll find fun, fresh ways to celebrate the sacred seasons
and enhance your practice.

This edition features articles on storytelling in ritual (Deborah Lipp), animal medicine (Kristin Madden), found magic (Dallas Jennifer Cobb), creating a paired path (Gwinevere Rain and N. Dante Lugo), and choosing the May queen (Magenta Griffith).

Reviews

Good Calendar, August 17, 2010
Very good Calendar to use for times, holidays, moon phase, what happened that day, color of the day and incense...I love it and get this every year....hope this helps you.

Witches' DateBook 2011, July 22, 2010
I pre-order this book every year. The knowledge contained in here is amazing - Love it!

Best datebook ever!, September 13, 2010
I've been using this datebook for 10 years, and every year I buy an extra to send to my friend in Norway. The spiral binding makes it easy to flip through, the covers are durable, the information is entertaining and useful, and the illustrations are lovely. It's just the right size, too: not too big for my purse, but gives you enough space to keep track of everything!

Not only for witches, October 15, 2010
I buy this every year. It's got interesting articles. And it makes knowing seasonal and monthly events so easy. You can use this as a personal scheduler, like for dentist or doctors appointment times. If you need a bit of luck or encouragement for a day just wear the color of the day. I also buy the Farmer's Almanac and it's just fun to be aware of celestial and earthly events during the year and both of these books provide that information.

Very informative, September 11, 2010
You don't need to be a witch to like this datebook. There is great info on moon phases, herbs and uses. That was my main reason for buying it. Purchased another one for a gift.

quite complete, December 1, 2010
I am going to enjoy using this book thoughout the year to keep appointments and to keep track of the all the dates and happenings as well as having a better understanding of when and what to plant year round. The art work is wonderful and it is an easy read chock full of interesting facts. I am glad that I purchased this book. I got a lot for my money.

Very Cool, October 12, 2010
I'm so excited, this is better than I imagined and I can't wait to use it :)

datebook, September 23, 2010
this is a great datebook. along with having plenty of room to write appointments, etc., on the calendar, it has pictures, notations, information and tips for the wiccan.. very nice. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Open your heart and mind to the wisdom of the animal world.

Animal Speak provides techniques for recognizing and interpreting the signs and omens of nature. Meet and work with animals as totems and spirits by learning the language of their behaviors within the physical world.

Animal Speak shows you how to: identify, meet, and attune to your spirit animals; discover the power and spiritual significance of more than 100 different animals, birds, insects, and reptiles; call upon the protective powers of your animal totem; and create and use five magical animal rites, including shapeshifting and sacred dance.

This bestselling guide has become a classic reference for anyone wishing to forge a spiritual connection with the majesty and mystery of the animal world.

... Read more

Reviews

Spirit Guides and Totems, July 6, 2000
Animal Speak by Ted Andrews

Spirit Guides and Totems

I discovered this book on a trip through the White Mountains of Arizona, where I was born. After reading the book I have purchased several more copies as gifts and had them sent direct from Amazon. For anyone interested in Native American culture, shamanism, connecting with and understanding the creatures that share the Earth with us, this is a "must have" book. Animals speak about the events and emotions in our lives. For a writer the book brings a wealth of background character information.

Have you ever dreamt about an animal, a panther, a snake, a bear or a hawk? Did you wonder why the dream seemed important. Have you ever glanced out the door or window to see a spider casually weaving an intricate web or a raccoon or dog glancing back at you? What does a totem mean and do the inhabitants of this modern civilization have personal totems? Do you have pictures of a particular animal scattered throughout your house? I have many pictures of panthers and jaguars in the rooms in which I spend my time because I feel connected to the jaguar of South American history, especially the Mayans. Why?

My answers were in this book, but even without questions I have found Animal Speak is loaded with wonderful information about so many different creatures. Plus, it is a delight to discover what the underlying emotions may be when someone tells you that they like (or hate) dolphins, woodpeckers, ants, bees or perhaps a coyote which is actually linked to the dog.

For the mystic the answer is yes we have totems. The animals (perhaps pets) in a totem can change as they bring messages that are to warn, protect, comfort, guide, remind or whatever is needed.

Core Beliefs Expressed, February 9, 2000
I have been reading about/practicing with Animal Communication, and other holistic modalities (such as Reiki and Flower Essences) for awhile, and trying to find a path which puts it all together. Andrew's book has given me a tremendous set of insights into the basis for my beliefs and spiritual path, an intuitive foundation. Such ideas as communication starts with listening, respect and trust. And, as Andrew's mentions in his book, "They (Shamans) helped people remember that all trees are divine and that all animals speak to those who listen". (Page 1). One more quote, from page X, "When we learn to speak with the animals.....the animals are no longer our subordinates. They become our teachers, our friends, and our companions". He presents many such insights in the book, which give words to many of the thoughts and beliefs I hold.

Great reading for anyone who is pursuing a spiritual path which includes reverence for nature in any form. Thanks to Ted Andrews, from the animals.

Best You Can Find on the Topic of Totems, May 5, 2000
Now, I'll try to make this as easy as possible for those of you who don't know what Totems are. Totems are Spirit Guides (spirits who help you along on your journeys through life) that come to you in the form of animals. A Totem can be any animal that you have a strange connection to. This book is very good when it comes to the topic of Totems. Trust me, I've done a lot of studying and have seen a lot of information, but this has the most extensive collection of knowledge.

The best part of the book that is original that you can find few other places is it's huge dictionary of animal Totems. You can look up your Totem animal in the dictionary and it will give you the animal's history and folklore. It will also give you suggestions for someone who has that Totem. But that isn't the only good thing about the book. This book teaches you to find Totems if you don't yet knoww how. It tells you how to meditate to find your Totems, or, for the less patient, it gives other ways, too. Animal Speak also teaches you to read Totems in your life. Other topics include things that you won't find in other books like the Preadator and Prey Theory, magic with bird feathers, honoring your animal Totems in many ways, and working with TOtem medicine. All of these are extremely useful and you can learn about the topic greatly. This good and all, but the book is not reccomended for beginners on Totem study and preferable for advanced people serious about the subject. The book is okay for starters, but some things are not explained as well as they should be for those who know nothing about Totems. Totems are a very interesting topic and this book is very good for the adventerous one that you know.

One Of My Favorite Books! (I Consult It Often), September 20, 2005
"The true shaman, the true naturalist, works to reconnect conscious human life with Nature and Spirit through totems and ritual. The images of the animals are the expressions of nature help us to transcend our normal, waking consciousness so that we can more easily attune to ethereal realms and beings." - From the book

Throughout history, animals have appeared on cave drawings, pottery, sculpture, and paintings. Every culture contains myths, stories, songs and fairy tales featuring animals. For earth-based spiritual traditions, animals serve as protectors, messengers, and guides. Because animal archetypes are so strong within the human psyche, many individuals resonate with the mannerisms, defense strategies, social structures and habits of particular animals, insects, birds, and fish.

In the book Animal Speak, author Ted Andrews provides comprehensive information on animal totems, including the process of discovering your own. He describes the function of animal totems, emphasizing that the unique characteristics of animal forms reveal much about our own innate powers and abilities. According to Andrews, the purpose of Animal Speak is five-fold:

1. It will help you to determine your Nature totems
2. It will help you in learning to honor, attune, and invoke their energies more effectively in your life
3. It will assist you in discovering the hidden powers and significance of yourself, as is reflected by your totem
4. It will help you in applying the skills and adaptive powers of your totem to your own life environment
5. It will help you to learn the language of Nature (physical, spiritual, and magical) as it speaks to you every day, to read and apply what it says (through signs and omens), and in doing so help you to develolp a greater reverence and respect for all life, and greater power and control in your own.

Andrews says that animal totems are also known by names such as spirit animals, power animals, totem helpers, and others. Regardless of what you call them, Andrews asserts that there are ten basics attributes of these totems including: the animal chooses the person, not the other way around, lifelong power animals are usually wild, not domesticated, and more than one person can share a totem animal.

Animal Speak delves deep into more than 100 creatures and their habitats. Andrews discusses how to awaken to your spirit totems, the mystery of predator and prey, reading signs and omens in nature, and augury and the meaning of landscapes. He provides comprehensive totem dictionaries of bird totems, animal totems, insect totems, and reptile totems. For each creature, the author provides a Keynote phrase, as well as detailed observations on animal behavior, lore, and physical characteristics like plumage, fur, and coloring. He also notes idiosyncrasies, as well as seasonal, mating, and feeding habits.

Here are but a few examples of Keynotes and Cycles of Power from the book:

FOX

Keynote: Feminine magic of camouflage, shapeshifting and invisibility
Cycle of Power: Nocturnal, Dawn, and Dusk

EAGLES

Keynote: Illumination of Spirit, Healing, and Creation
Cycle of Power: All Seasons and during Daylight

ELEPHANT

Keynote: Ancient Power, Strength, and Royalty
Cycle of Power: Year-round

OTTER

Keynote: Joy, Playfulness, and Sharing
Cycle of Power: Spring and Summer

BUTTERFLY

Keynote: Transmutation and the Dance of Joy

CHAMELEON

Keynote: Clairvoyance and Auric Sensitivity

At 383 pages, Animal Speak provides a wealth of information for connecting with, and receiving Guidance from, animal spirits. Whether you seek to discover your animal totem, create and use magical animal rites, or call upon the protective powers of your power animal, Animal Speak provides you with the necessary tools for doing so.

My favorite use for this book, however, is animal divination. If I notice that a particular bird, animal, or insect gets my attention-perhaps by cropping up on TV, in a book, or even in a dream--I then get out Andrews' book and see what messages the creatures may have for me. There's enough information in Animal Speak to extrapolate specific animal behavior to my life and see if there are connections-let alone taking into consideration Andrews' own divinatory insight. Whether it's a dragonfly, blue jay, groundhog, or butterfly I can turn to this book to find wise counsel from the animal kingdom.

Because many the messages I receive are from the bird kingdom, I especially enjoy the Winged Enchantment section of Animal Speak, which covers bird totems, the initiation of Air, the mystery of feathers and flight, working with bird medicine, and so on.

This is a book I've referred to consistently over the years, and highly recommend to anyone wanting to understand-and connect with-the animal kingdom.

Janet Boyer, author of The Back in Time Tarot Book: Picture the Past, Experience the Cards, Understand the Present (coming Fall 2008 from Hampton Roads Publishing)

Animal Speak, a how to listen guide., July 16, 1998
Animal Speak translates the language of numerous other creatures we share earth with, easily. How to listen, learn and relate better to animals and our selves can be gleaned from reading this book. I've been blessed in this life with exceptional encounters with animals.. sometimes it is called: Noah's sense.To friends who envied it I say," Read this book. It can be learned!" I often refer to Animal Speak for further information when a new animal experience occurs. I trust Ted Andrews insights to expand my own understanding of what nature is trying to teach me.I know as humans we tend to ignore and deplete what we don't understand. Animals have always spoke with man and this book can help us hear them! Many thank's Ted Andrews! Encore!! Daynie

If Helpful Great, but Native American?, August 9, 2004
While all of the previous reviews are positive, none seem to be from people who have authentic training and qualifications to rate the accuracy of the contents.

It is true that the book is frequently cited--but in every instance I have found--the citations have been by non-Natives or non-tribal Natives who have not had recourse to authentic tribal teachers.

The meanings of animals as totems vary among tribal groups, so it can be expected that a book will reflect the training of the author. This book does not seem to match authentic teachings from any well-respected tribal educators.

According to all offical biographies I have been able to locate, Mr. Andrews is not Native American, and has not trained with one or more authentic shamen. He is an untrained lay person, who has made a career out of writing books and speaking about a wide variety of new age subjects in which his training is no broader than that of many of his readers/listeners.

Any book may be helpful and Mr. Andrews may have insights that help you. If so, great. But, please do not confuse this book with authentic Native American teachings.

Understanding Animal Wisdom, November 8, 2001
Whether you see animals in real life or just in your dreams, they are communicating with you. Ted Andrews' enchanting book, ANIMAL-SPEAK, is the best reference book to such animal messages that I've seen. While not all animals are included in the book (that would require a HUGE book!), this book certainly does contain very relevant information about a large number of creatures. The author's love of animals is clear from the start, and he provides fascinating tid-bits of little-known information as well as numerous personal anecdotes.

Whether you've been wishing you could understand those perplexing dreams with animals, if you want to choose an animal totem, or if you're ready to start practicing shape-shifting into animal form -- this book is just what you've been waiting for!

How animals can help you learn about yourself, February 15, 2002
In this book, you will discover how much the "animal world" and the "human world" intersect. Much more than making us feel good about being surrounded by nature, animals have much to tell us about ourselves and our relationship to the earth and to other living things. Andrews has divided the book into 4 parts - 'Symbols in the Natural World' (including chapters on the roles of nature, spirit totems, predators and prey, omens in nature, and the meaning of landscapes); 'Winged Enchantment' (bird totems and bird medicine); 'Understanding Animal Medicine' (animal rites and totems); and 'The Exotic Language of Insects and Reptiles' (totems). Each animal or bird or insect or reptile included in this vast inventory is described thoroughly - it's behavioral patterns and natural habitat, its mythological characteristics, AND its symbolic importance to humans. I have used this book repeatedly to help me interpret dreams in which animals were central, and to investigate why a certain animal or insect, etc. showed up in my life on a particular day. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is open to non-traditional but very ancient beliefs about animals and their magical and mysterious powers.

A comprehensive listing of spirit guides., December 20, 1999
There are lots of books on this subject these days, all advertising that they have information on how you can contact your spirit guides and interpret their presence in your life, but Andrews' is the only book I've used that REALLY achieves what its advertising promises. He approaches his subject -- and the reader -- with reverence and respect, and stays away from the "mystical mumbo jumbo" too many other books seem to lean so heavily on these days. I've found his insights to be right on the money every time. I use his book not only in researching and understanding spirit guides, but as a tool for dream interpretation as well. It's an excellent book.

Wonderful reference!, June 11, 2002
Ever wonder why 4 deer walked in front of you this morning? or why you keep seeing the same little rabbit every evening for a week and then never again? Well, this book can tell you why AND MORE! Not only does Ted give descriptions of animals, birds and insects and their spiritual messages to us, but he also gives info on colors, trees, direction, etc.
This book is filled with all kinds of useful information to help you understand the messages given to us by the plant and animal kingdoms. He gives tips on how to find your Power Animals, how to attune yourself to animal energies, backgrounds on different spiritual practices involving communicating with animal spirits, and SO MUCH MORE! Granted, this is just his opinion, but who better to give an opinion than someone who is so intuned with the spiritual! I HIGHLY recommend this book. It is a must for anyone exploring their spirituality, their connection to earth and animal kingdoms, and those looking to decipher possible messages that they bring to us. If you find that the animal/bird/insect you are looking for is not covered in this book, then I recommend his other book as well: Animal-Wise.
I own both books and use them on almost a daily basis. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Dating back roughly 3,000 years, the gods of the ancient Greeks--and later, of the Romans--have figured prominently in legendry, poetry, drama, and the visual arts. But today's readers are often confused when they encounter the myriad names of those deities and try to understand their roles in mythology. This entertaining and mind-expanding book charts 100 of the most prominent characters from Greco-Roman mythology, including the primordial deities, the great gods of Olympus, and the shadowy inhabitants of Hades. Addressing universal themes such as love, jealousy, anger, ambition, deceit, and beauty, the stories told here make fascinating reading while they add significance to countless classical references in our civilization's literature and art. Author Malcolm Day profiles each god with a short, very readable summary of that personage's acts. He sets each deity's storywithin the larger context of a "family tree" that encompasses all major gods. Full-color illustrations showing memorable scenes from classical mythology include reproductions from famous paintings and photos of statuary. Separate chapters are devoted to:

Editorial Review

Cunningham’s classic introduction to Wicca is about how to live life magically, spiritually, and wholly attuned with nature. It is a book of sense and common sense, not only about magick, but about religion and one of the most critical issues of today: how to achieve the much needed and wholesome relationship with our Earth. Cunningham presents Wicca as it is today: a gentle, Earth-oriented religion dedicated to the Goddess and God. Wicca also includes Scott Cunningham’s own Book of Shadows and updated appendices of periodicals and occult suppliers.
... Read more

Reviews

A Practical Guide for the Solitary Wiccan, December 6, 1999
Mr. Cunningham has written a book for the Wiccan who is solitary either because s/he knows no existing local compatible covens, or because s/he has no compatible person with whom to practice Wicca. The book is very well-written. It is suitable for true beginners, but contains extensive detail making it valuable for the more advanced Wiccan.

Mr. Cunningham's Wiccan philosophy differs from other Wiccan authors. Other authors stress Wiccan history, Wicca's established rituals, coven membership benefits, and the apprenticeship required before Wiccan initiation. Mr. Cunningham's philosophy emphasizes attitude rather than organization. Specifically, Mr. Cunningham discusses specific Wiccan beliefs and goals: belief in the Goddess and God; concern for the Earth; social consciousness; and the right not to be dominated by others. He states that sincere living and supporting these Wiccan beliefs is more important than perfect performance of dogmatic rituals: "Ineffective ritual kills spirituality."

This philosophy seems trivial, but it mirrors (British philosopher) Bertrand Russell's statements that ethics are more important than religious dogma. Mr. Cunningham's philosophy is very relevant to individuals who have fled the dogma of organized religions and who seek a more personal form of worship within Wicca.

Mr. Cunningham's approach offers much flexibility. A sincere practitioner can perform their own Wiccan initiation or have no initiation. Brutal physical ordeals are not required within an initiation rite. An initiation rite uses spiritual tools (chanting, visualization, meditation, etc.) to achieve ritual states of consciousness.

The book's first section discusses Wiccan Theory. This section discusses the Deities; Magick and Magickal Tools; Rituals, the Circle, and the Altar; the Days of Power (Sabbats and Esbats); and Reincarnation (a topic not discussed in other Wiccan books). The Deity discussion includes both the Goddess and God, and also the minor deities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, etc.). The Magick discussion differentiates between the types of magick performed by magickians and shamans, and Wiccan magick: "Wiccans don't perform destructive, manipulative, or exploitive magic."

The discussion of Rituals, the Circle, and the Altar describes ritual preparation in detail. Mr. Cunningham's book contains a Wiccan color chart (pg. 50) that I found both unique and interesting. The Wiccan color chart differs *greatly* from the West Coast "popular culture" color scheme so widely propagated by the entertainment industry. For example, in the Wiccan color chart Black signifies protection, the Universe, and lack of falsehood. In the popular culture color scheme Black symbolizes evil. Many individuals misinterpret Wicca's symbolic use of the color Black with *unfortunate* consequences.

The book's second section covers Wiccan Practice, and discusses exercises and magickal techniques, self-dedication, and ritual design. Exercises include breathing, meditation, and visualization. The Self-Dedication Section presents a self-dedication ritual, and (pg. 89) also encourages solitary Wiccans to participate in community activities that are compatible with Wiccan goals. The Ritual Design Section shows how the solitary Wiccan can modify the book's rituals to better meet their own philosophies and goals.

The book's third section is a Book Of Shadows. It includes collections of rituals, invocations, and recipes; and a guide to using herbs, plants, crystals, symbols and runes in Wiccan ritual. The discussion of Sabbat and Esbat rituals is especially detailed.

The book contains Appendices listing suppliers and publications. A Glossary is included. An extensive Suggested Reading List organized by Pagan/Wiccan topic also is included.

Mr. Cunningham is an excellent author, provides excellent detail concerning Wicca and its rituals, and provides a practical approach to Wiccan worship. His approach allows the solitary Wiccan to support community activities compatible with Wiccan goals while not being dominated by religious dogma.

This nice and valuable book is useful both for the true Wiccan beginner and also for the more advanced Wiccan.

An Excellent Starting Point, December 16, 2000
I have to admit that, when I started my exploration of the Wiccan Way, this book wasn't the first on my list. I went through several other beginner's guides before finally ending up with Cunningham's work, and I definitely wish I'd come across it sooner.

Scott Cunningham makes an excellent portrayal of the core philosophy of Wicca, although accentuated with his own shamanistic bent. Cunningham's clear, crisp writing style makes reading his book seem like there's a teacher in the room with you. Truly, if you have any questions about the religion and practice of Wicca, it won't take you long to find your answers in "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner."

Possibly the greatest aspect of Cunningham's book, however, is that over half of it teaches through demonstration. After detailing Wiccan theories and common practices, Cunningham delves right into his own Book of Shadows, giving you a real-life example of the spirituality. This, if nothing else, makes the book a unique and essential part of any neopagan bookshelf.

For those of you with no real knowledge of Wicca, I would suggest another book, such as Amber K's "True Magick" or Silver Ravenwolf's "To Ride a Silver Broomstick." However, if you've just started on the Wiccan Way, I highly recommend this book to round out your beginner's training and start you towards greater wisdom.

Solitary Practioner, a MUST on pagan/Wiccan bookshelf!, May 1, 1997
Cunningham's Guide to the solitary practicioner is an absolute must. With this book and "The Spiral Dance" by Starhawk any beginning Wicca or pagan can learn the essential basics of practicing non-christian traditional earth based religion. This book clearly outlines the principles of practice, but leaves specific interpretation up to the reader. This is a must, as in pagan religions there is truly no "right way". The standing stones book of shadows is an excellent guide to creating your own solitary tradition. What is truly impressive about this book is that all of the information can easily be trnsformed into group or coven practice. An excellent supplement text is "Incense,Oils, and Brews", also by Cunningham. It will help spur your creativity with wonderful recipes for all kinds of concoctions from alter oil to magical soaps and powders! Whether you are an initiate/novice, or third level priestess, this book can offer you insite into the solitary practictioner's world. I can not praise this book highly enough. I have been practicing for many years, and no longer am I solitary. Yet, my dog eared copy of Solitary Practioner is always a welcome sight, comfort, and wealth of basic information. dakotahblu :) Merry Part and Merry Meet Again!

The best guide for any Wiccan Practitioner, October 23, 2000
If you are a Wiccan, or curious about the religion, or just like to read a good book with wonderful information in it, then Wicca by Scott Cunningham is a must buy. This is definately the best beginning book for any one who is serious about the Craft. He clearly gives detailed facts about how to become more spiritual with the God/Goddess, how to celebrate the Sabbats (holy days of Wicca), and how to cast circles and call the quarters. In his Book of Shadows, which is the third part of this book, he clearly explains what tools to use in rituals and how to use them. And of course, there's a list of prayers, blessings, invocations, and chants that well serve you well as it did me. I found myself after reading this book, and practicing his suggested magick, to take more pride in my religion and become more closer with the Lord and Lady. I was also able to finally dismiss my worries I had about converting to Wicca after many years going to a Catholic school. This books also contains a variety of recipes for making incense, oils, foods, etc. Buy and read this book to understand why Scott Cunningham is one of the best Wiccan teachers this generation has ever had.

Great For The Newly Interested, December 11, 1999
What a great book! It's well organized - just look at the Table of Contents or the index, and you can find anything you want! It is one of the first books on the Craft that I read, and one of the few geared towards solitares! A wonderful reference for those who live in areas where others on the same path are scarce, and where an established coven is not readily available to teach them. It is written in a way that is comprehendable to both the experienced and the inexperienced Wiccan. From the basic altar set-ups and guideline Book of Shadows (which he even suggests adding to on your own) it is one of the few books that really lets the reader know that it is okay not to agree with everything it says. Cunningham himself attempts to give the reader the very important message that the reason Wicca appeals to so many is because of its ability to be tailored to the individual. A must-have in any Wiccan library! Bravo!

Gentle Intro to Wicca, July 14, 2000
I love all of Scott Cunningham's books, but this is my treasure. It was only my second book that I had ever read about the religion of Wicca. Once I was halfway through, I knew that I had found what I was looking for. I had come "home". Scott very gently guides you through information and does not preach. He writes of the history of the Craft, beliefs, laws, tools, rituals and gives guidelines for everything. His appendix section (of suggested books, music, magazines, and organizations) is very helpful and thorough. Scott includes prayers, herbs, crystal, magick, ritual, and Goddess/God information that is easy to understand. He includes a sample Book of Shadows so that a beginner knows where and how to start off. It is the book that I go back to over and over again and I cannot recommend it more highly. It is not a book on spells or magick (although he includes some in his book), but a novice's introduction to the spiritual, but practical side of Wicca. I love it and you will, too.

Good introduction, but not too much more, September 14, 2000
This was one of the first books on the Craft I bought (along with his earlier work, "The Truth About Witchcraft Today"). Cunningham does a nice job of presenting Wicca as a positive, pre-Christian, Earth-centered religion, and gives a very general (sometimes generic) overview of the Dieties, Tools, Symbols, and High Holy Days.

The book is for those who are very new to the Craft and do not have access to, or a desire to associate with, a working coven. Cunningham's descriptions of the primary magical tools are very brief (i.e. the athame and the bolline together barely take up a page of text), and really only serve to merely introduce the objects to the reader, rather than delve into the magical properties of them.

The Chapter on Magic attempts to disspell the myths of what Wiccans actually do during ceremony, that they do not cast spells of manipulation and harm. Cunningham also outlines a very basic prosperity spell in order to pay his bills. He strongly advocates the ideal of infusing one's magic with love.

Yes, it's all very "white light" and rather saccharine at times, but it is an early work and many authors have simply lifted from what Cunningham wrote about and put their own spin on it. This is not a book for advanced students; but, for those who are just starting out in the Craft and are still unsure where to look, it can serve as a useful tool.

An engaging and very informative book!!, August 28, 2001
For the longest time I had only Raymond Bucklands Complete Book of Witchcraft (which is good, but a bit dull), and a book on the Fae. From what I had read from Bucklands book, Wicca was very structured and firm. When I got Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, I found otherwise. Cunningham makes it clear that you aren't going to be slapped on the hand and told "shame!" if you don't follow everything that a book says. Actually, he strongly encourages changing rituals to suit your needs. From reading this book I also gained so much knowlage about the Goddess and God, and aspects of the religion itself that I had no idea existed. And, no, the book isn't all about worshipping and what not. There is information on stones, herbs, tools, Sabbats, you name it! This book is so informative and...well...down right interesting! In fact, I got so engaged that I read the whole book in one day, frantically copying this and that into my book of shadows. I highly recommend this book to any Wiccan that needs a complete and concise guide. Blessed be!

Blessed Be!!, March 5, 2001
I once saw a plaque that said "that stirring in your soul is the Goddess awakening. And yes, it is a powerful hunger." For those who are feeling a stirring in their soul and wish to explore the earth-religion of Wicca, Cunningham's book is a perfect starting place.

Cunningham touches briefly on the history of Wicca (it's one of the oldest faiths on our planet and from which many popular modern faiths spring from, including Christianity), and outlines what a Wiccan is and is NOT (no, a Wiccan does NOT worship Satan-in fact, the concept is absurd; Satan is a Christian construction. If one does not believe in Christianity, then one does not believe in [or worship!] a Christian devil). He explains the tools of Wicca, how to set up a home altar, and how to cast spells (reviewer's note: spellcasting is the same as Christian prayer: it is a way of focusing one's energies and affecting one's environment).

Wicca can be practiced in a group, known as a coven. However, considering that many people are in the (broom)closet about practicing the Craft, it can be very difficult to find like-minded individuals to practice and celebrate with. However, unlike other faiths, one can practice Wicca by themselves as a solitary. Cunningham shows you how, and shows you in an easy-to-understand, easy to follow way.

Mr. C. stresses early on that the Craft may not be the spiritual path for everyone. However, if you're feeling that stirring in your soul, this would be an excellent place to begin, to see if this is the path the Goddess is leading you down.

Wonderful book!, December 27, 2000
This was the first book I bought on the Craft and it remains one of my favorites. Scott Cunningham writes a lot of useful info for the solitary practitioner. He talks about Wicca & Shamanism in Chapter One and moves on to talk about the Wiccan deities (the Lord and the Lady) in Chapter Two. He tells us about the different forms of magick and how to adapt it in our daily lives and use it successfully. He speaks about the main tools that Wiccans handle and it tells how they are used in modern day Witchcraft. He talks about the 'spiral of rebirth' (reincarnation) and tells us about the Wiccan 'days of power' (the esbats which are full moon rites when you pay homage to the Goddess and it also talks about the eight Wiccan festivals which follows the life cycle of the Horned God). Overall, this book was great and I'm glad how Cunningham focuses on the spiritual part of Wicca instead of the whole spell-casting stuff.

--Blessed Be ... Read more

Editorial Review

This book has the potential to profoundly transform your world view. Using high-speed photography, Dr. Masaru Emoto discovered that crystals formed in frozen water reveal changes when specific, concentrated thoughts are directed toward them. He found that water from clear springs and water that has been exposed to loving words shows brilliant, complex, and colorful snowflake patterns. In contrast, polluted water, or water exposed to negative thoughts, forms incomplete, asymmetrical patterns with dull colors. The implications of this research create a new awareness of how we can positively impact the earth and our personal health. ... Read more

Reviews

Very Disappointing, November 25, 2004
Like many others, I became aware of this book through the excellent film "What the Bleep?" and had high expectations for the message. The book started off interestingly enough, but as it went on, I became more and more put off by Emoto's lack of scientific perspective, even as he was claiming to be performing "research."

To be clear, I am very open minded and actively seek out cutting-edge ideas that push the envelope of our concepts of 'reality.' However, if a photo is shown of an ice crystal that purportedly got its shape from a prayer or a phrase or a song, a rational thinking person wants to know, "Out of a billion crystals that may have formed at that instant, how representative (or *subjectively selective*) is that photo that is being shown of the entire population of the crystals in the mix?" Careful statistical evaluations would be necessary to establish any solid basis for Emoto's theses. Yet no hard data such as this exists in this book. I am open to these ideas, even want to believe in them, but, where's the beef?

After viewing the photos and Emoto's captions describing them, it would be hard for an objective person --regardless of their level of open-mindedness and optimism-- to not see that his interpretations are extemely subjective and dubious. Although I was trying to hang with him, he really lost me at the point where he showed a photo of a crystal from water that had been shown a picture of a crop circle and told us the crystal looked like a UFO. (To be fair, I was fascinated by the four crystal photos of Vivaldi's Four Seasons - they seemed to fit the seasons very well.)

There's 'good' new age, and there's 'bad' new age; it was very disappointing that this book drifted into the latter. I am still open to the idea that H2O may have interesting messages; Emoto just fundamentally fails to deliver. It received two stars because it is a nicely published book, and it did stimulate me to fantisize that, applying REAL scientific research, these ideas may lead to something interesting ... someday.

An experiment attempting to replicate Dr. Emoto's work..., May 26, 2005
Introduction: In an Advanced Placement Psychology class at Durango High School our group attempted to replicate Dr. Masaru Emoto's water experiments. In his studies, Dr. Emoto showed a correlation between thoughts or messages and the formation of water crystals.

Original Methods: In his experiment Dr. Emoto used about fifty different water sources varying from glacial water in Japanese mountains to filtered water from a faucet. Dr. Emoto attached different messages to each water sample and even had a Buddhist monk bless some of them. Some of the messages were: "Love and Gratitude," "Thank you," and "You make me sick." He included a variety of positive and negative thoughts. He then froze the water samples on Petri dishes in a freezer at -4 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 hours. His stated results showed a strong correlation between the message and the formation of the water crystals. Water samples with optimistic messages on them created "nice-looking" crystals and the ones with pessimistic messages created "ugly" crystals.

Critique: Dr. Emoto's experiment appears to have overlooked certain variables, and some of his conclusions may be based on assumptions that are not necessarily true. For example, Dr. Emoto failed to realize that there are hundreds of crystals in one drop of water, and through "experimenter bias" he may have subconsciously noticed certain crystals while disregarding others because of the suggestion of a certain message. In other words, he could have looked through thousands of crystals to find a beautiful one if he knew the message was a positive one, and -- consciously or unconsciously -- he could have looked for an ugly crystal if he knew the message was a negative one. Dr. Emoto does not state if the experiment was a double blind study, in which he was unaware of which messages were attached to which water sample, a measure that would eliminate this kind of experimenter bias. Because of this, we do not know if Emoto only photographed the "pretty" crystals because of the positive messages or was unconsciously drawn to "scary" crystals when he looked at samples with negative messages. His experiment is also open to diverse interpretations. He implies that certain crystal structures may reflect the thought that was attached to them, but he fails to recognize that there may be other relevant interpretations for analyzing the crystal formations. Because of the unnoticed variables in the experiment, our high-school A.P. Psychology group decided to try to remake Dr. Emoto's experiment.

Our Methods: Replicating Dr. Emoto's experiment proved to be a little more challenging than we originally thought it would be. Dr. Emoto got most of his water samples from the mountains of Japan; we had to settle with water from the Animas River, and other various water samples. This may have created a discrepancy in our conclusions, but both experiments tested the effect of thought on water, so the water type should have had no bearing on our results. We also used a control group for each type of water: A sample that had no message attached. We had five different types of water: Dasani, tap water, river water, filtered tap water, and tap water from a different location. Each type of water was labeled with a color, and for each type we attached 5 different messages to 5 different microscope slides containing the water sample, as well as having one "control" slide with no message. So all together we made 30 slides. The messages we used were "I despise you," "You make me sick," "Thank you," "Love and Gratitude," and "You are beautiful." We taped the messages, as well as a piece of colored paper that corresponded to the water type, onto the bottom of each slide. We were unaware of which message was on which slide in each water group. Although we took special precautions and were careful about experimenter bias, our experiment was not as wide-scale as Dr. Emoto's. We didn't have nearly as many samples as Dr. Emoto did. Another difficulty we faced was the temperature of the freezer and the time that we left the water in the freezer. Our freezer ranged from -2 to -10 degrees Fahrenheit, while Emoto's was at -4 degrees. This created different freezing times for the water samples. We had to wait until a thin layer of crystals was just beginning to form on the surface of the water before we could analyze them underneath our microscope, but at the same time, we could not let the water freeze completely or else we could not observe any crystals. We also used glass slides instead of Petri dishes, another source of possible discrepancy.

Conclusion: We did not find sufficient evidence to refute or accept Emoto's hypothesis that thought influences water crystal formation. We noticed one interesting similarity between two separate groups of water samples: Similar crystals formed on the same message, "I despise you." But, for the most part, the crystal formations in each water sample resembled each other, regardless of the messages attached to them. We concluded that in order to make a significant finding, further research would have to be done. So, for now, we will have to live with our curiosity and continue to wonder if our thoughts have the power to influence water and ultimately ourselves.

Amanda White,
Robbie Else,
Scott Wilson,
Damian Nash (teacher).
AP Psychology Class
Durango High School
May 25, 2004

Note: Science-minded readers will appreciate the study done by Kristopher Setchfield at http://www.is-masaru-emoto-for-real.com/

Good Starting Point, October 27, 2004
As much as there are pages with words in this book, there are just as many pages with photographs from water crystals from all over the world - from natural springs, from tap water, and then the images that were taken when different music was played, or when different positive and negative words and statements (samples were taking from many different languages) were written on a piece of paper.

Some sample words and statements were "love" and "you fool". The crystal which formed when the word "love" was written in Japanese looked so beautiful and well defined, that it almost made me begin to learn Japanese (soon, I will). But the havoc that the statement "you fool" created - I think that all who happen to use these words frequently either when referring to themselves or others, should take a closer look to get a picture as to what it does to their bodies.

It has been known to those who are involved in metaphysical studies that the vibration of love heals the body and that vibrations of fear, hate, lies cause the cells of the body to fall apart. The pictures in this book demonstrate what the vibrations of different ideas, thoughts, emotions, statements and music do to water.

This is an enlightening book which is intended to demonstrate the effect that music and words we use have on our bodies, given the fact that our bodies are mainly composed out of water.

The current edition of the book is an expanded version of the original book which contained only pictures and was reprinted due to its great demand.

The author did make few statements, though, which I do not consider entirely correct - one of them being that "ALL is made out of water" - I believe that, at least in view of both quantum physics and metaphysics, it would be more correct to state that - ALL is made out of intelligent energy - and that water in this case was a medium for experiments which have the workings of energy and vibration at the core.

Having an esoteric background, when I picked up this book, I was expecting it to go a little bit further - as in consciously intending outcomes and projecting them upon the glass of water, instead of just writing the words and statement on paper. One can, for example, also use litmus paper to measure the changes in pH levels in water after directing focused energy charged with specific thoughts, either purely mentally or through one's hands, into the glass of water.

H2Oh, my God!, September 8, 2006
When I was in my teens and early twenties, I had horrible, horrible acne. I tried all kinds of things; medicines, creams, soaps. My acne would dissapear for a little bit and then come back with a vengeance. I was about ready to give up. But one day I was sitting there and I was just looking at a glass of water I had poured. The morning sunlight that was streaming in through the kitchen windows hit the glass of water just right and it really caught my attention; it was absolutely beautiful. I held up that glass of water to the sun and said from a place of love, "This is beauty water. This water cleanses, purifies, and beautifies my skin..." And then I drank the water. The water actually tasted better...it was so weird...

This was about six months before I got into learning about affirmations and visualizations and all that other metaphysical "mumbo jumbo" that people are so quick to put down but so slow in investigating the "matter" or should I say, "the Spirit" for themselves. But every time I got a glass of water, I held it up and said the statement, "This is beauty water. This water cleanses, purifies and beautifies my skin..." Would you believe in less than a week my skin completely cleared up and whenever I did breakout, it was usually small and disappeared within a few days.

Dr. Emoto's book really hit home with me. Without me even knowing what I was doing, I was actually changing the structure of the water I was drinking. I was literally changing the composition of the water with my words! Now you can scoff all you want, but something happened that I cannot explain. Like I said earlier, nothing worked. Even my dermatologist asked me what I was doing. I told him and he looked like he wanted to wet his pants. Could you imagine if every patient of his did what I did? He would quickly go out of business.

Now that I am more consciously aware of certain universal laws and principles for instance, "thoughts are things" and "what we focus on we attract" I not only bless the water that I drink, but the food that I eat. Sometimes I will "pig out" and eat a box of fudge...see my review on the best fudge in the world...and I will tell that fudge that it will only be used for energy. I will not gain an ounce of fat. Yes, I do workout, but I'm in my early 40s and my metabolism has really s l o w e d down...

I know the skeptics who are reading this review are probably having a field day and although my "experiments" have not been proven, the experiments in this book have been. When, oh, when are we going to realize that the whole universe is alive and vibrant and conscious of Itself? We live in a thinking universe and not one bit of it is "dead matter". It is beautiful and in each and every moment, everything is cleansed, purified, and beautified....

Believe it and one day you may come to know that it's true.

_Hidden Messages_ does not hold water, February 8, 2007
Well, the photos are pretty. Cool idea but, as a Ph.D, I am appalled at the research methods. As a spiritual person, I appreciate what he has to say. Much more below:

My contention with this book is that the research is so clinically unsound, unscientific, and haphazardly rendered that it can bear no weight at all. Also, this seems to be a spiritual book looking for a mystifying way to support the author's points of view about conscious life, while showing some pretty photos garnered from water crystals as evidence. I have Ph.D. and I don't buy it -- pun intended. (Actually, the book was a gift :)

Faulty, unsupportable, unsound, unscientific, and extremnely simplistic research experiments. In one type of experiment, the author writes a word on a piece of paper and tape it to a glass of water -- word facing water -- then wait and observe the crystal formations of the water. He takes photos and concludes that the water is responding directly to the word (and not to him, not to anything else that might be in the environment.

However, there is no proof for the "messages from water" theory provided in this book -- he concludes that water creates certain "peaceful" and "beautiful" crystal patterns for positive words, emotions, and icky ones for negative words, emotions. Furthermore, the experiments did not account for the subjectivity of his own culturally-informed value judgments regarding what is considered positive/negative.

For instance, same example: the water's so-called response to the word -- it could be caused by any number of things, including arbitrariness. Say you go with his theory that water has messages for us, which I believe is not proven by his research, which is not to say it can't be "proven" or that water doesn't contain messages, but this is to say that he fails to consider so many other factors and influences such as:

Is the water responding to the experimenter who taped up the word? Is there a difference in crystal depending on the water source? Real science would have incorporated variables, and multiple multiple repetitions. Variables were not used such as different kinds of paper, different shapes, shades, sizes of paper, different writing/typing styles and sizes, different languages, different kinds of tape, different glasses with the same word. Instead, the author simply accepts as objectively given his own interpretation of water crystals as a true spiritual message.

Further, there is no idication of how many times he repeated the same word experiment? Because without repeat experimentations in a controlled environment, nothing is anywhere near proven. In the book it seems like each experiment is a one-time event and the parts about the crystal experiments read like arbitrary trials -- "hey, let's see how water responds to this word. Okay, now let's try another word. Wow, look at that." This doesn't prove anything. But the photos are beautiful. I'll give him that big time.

The author also fails to acknowledge quantum physics long-accepted breakthrough that an expermenter's own involvement with and presence during research effects the results of the research study? Suppose the water is responding to the researcher himself. Or some other factor. What is the margin of error for these so-called studies? I'd say huge, but the author never bothered to try to figure it out. Instead, we get a "beautiful" little "profound" spiritual book which is *really* about the message of the author, which actually may interest readers, because the message is inspirational and lovely and will make you feel good. (Unless you are is irritated as I am about his faulty water experiments held up as proof.)

The random pairing of water's messages and the author's message, while an innovative approach to draw seekers in and introduce them to his spiritual beliefs/philosophy is a dubious combination. I have no problem with his beliefs, but his attempt to "illustrate" them and concretize them with non-scientifically produced evidence is highly suspect. He has A LOT to say about contemporary issues and the spiritual state of the soul and consciousness, and I think his words would hold more water if he just wrote *that* book, instead of looking for proof for his beliefs in water crystals. His writing and thinking are very clear and his theory of life (not of water crystals) is beautiful and inspiring and mindful. but the two don't go together -- he is forcing them together. The theory is beautiful and fascinating (about the water crystals,) and would be moreso if it were true. But he provides no leaky evidence.

Yes, the water crystals are a lovely additionto the book (I guess they are suposed to be the subject of the book, but his spiritual philosophy is the subject -- they just agument, except that they don't. The experiments he did with water are fascinating. They just provide no evidence of anything other than that water forms hundreds (or more?) of kinds of crystals. But hey -- so do snowflakes. (I have no idea what the estimate is for how many different patterns snowflakes make.) But does this mean snowflakes are talking to us? Are their messages in snow?

This book will appeal to hopeful soulful people, and also uninformed, non-thinking people who will believe just about anything if novel enough -- if it is in a published book format, with photo documenation ("evidence.) It seems to be a "feel-good" book aimed at people who do not think too much and who want to be mystified by the universe.

But on a positive note, the author is a fantastic and innovative photographer, so the photographs are really cool -- an exhibit would be worthwhile. Perhaps the novelty of the chance process of how the crystals formed before the photographs were taken (which words, artworks, music) will appeal even more, due to the unusual circumstances under which these photographs came about. It would make for a great post-modern photo art exhibition and he has exhibited.

Conclusion: Phoney science; no statistics, no margin of error, no variables, no controlled environment for doing the water experiments, no accounting for the subjectivity of the author and his expectations of what he will discover -- for these surely influence what he discovers. As I said, he uses the crystals to prove his theory, but they don't hold up as objective messages separate and uninfluenced by the author himself. Representation is misleading. (In one case water provided a diffent "message" than expected, but the authors found a way to account for this difference in a way that that fit it back into their theory.)

There are SO MANY factors that could be going on in creating the water crystals and the only factor the author/photographer provide is that water has a message for us and that message is readible, and predictable, by them, through its crystals. I think MUCH more research would need to be done -- scientifically controlled with variables and so forth -- in order for his water to support his theory.

On another note, this is a spiritual book and it is interesting and in line with contemporary spiritual, consciousness, intelligent universe beliefs. He is an excellent writer and there are *certainly* "grains of truth" and "nuggests" that the reader can appreciate.

Well, drink 6-8 cups of water a day and think happy thoughts. This will produce positivity in your life and the optimism model and the water requirement ARE proven with excellent socio/scientific evidence.

Two stars to give him credit for trying. He really is intelligent, and his photos are lovely

Intriguing Research on Healing, Consciousness, & Energy, June 18, 2004
This is a repackaged version of the research and photos of Dr. Emoto that were originally in a set of books that included a Japanese version of the text. This research has been popularized by a number of holistic health practitioners and new science/new thought metaphysical advocates. Emoto's evidence is very impressive, although I don't think he fully understands how the water reacts to its environment in some instances, such as the response of water to specific words. Words are energetically connected to human concepts, so the word actually transmits the concept/idea/feeling that people associate it with rather than the word actually having an energy apart from the consciousness of those who have used the word. If everyone suddenly decided that "satan" "devil" and "Hitler" were positive forces then those words could become positive influences on water. Water is inherently a neutral compound - neutral pH, etc., which is perfect for transmitting energy and information without corrupting the information. Emoto has done wonderful work examining water all over the world and seeing how water reacts to a variety of environmental stimuli. Follow-up controlled research would be useful to examine how human beliefs, intentions, and consciusness may influence how water responds to various tangible or recordable stimuli. This book is valuable even just for the water crystal photos throughout the book, and should inspire more people with materialistic, mechanistic views to expand their awareness.

No scientic research, February 21, 2005
The basic premise of this entire book and the philosophy of Masaru Emoto is that water crystals are affected by thoughts, attitudes and feelings. This is a very exciting idea and one that I really do want to believe in.

However, never in this book is there any scientific research - absolutely none. The most basic principle of scientific research is reproducible results by reputable third parties. Who are Emoto-son's researchers? Allow me to quote, "I wrote this experiment in the book that I published, and as a result hundreds of families throughout Japan conducted this same experiment for themselves. EVERYONE reported the same results." And that's all you get folks!

Really, I want to believe, I really do, but show some respect to human logic and scientific discipline. If there is ANY real research it should be in the book.

Is it science? Take it with a grain of salt..., April 12, 2005
I was really fascinated by this book. The photography is outstanding. Although the author is Japanese, the English translations are coherent and easy to follow.

The idea that vibrational resonance stemming from intention can affect the crystallization of water is really intriguing, and I really *want* to believe that this is hard-core science. If it is, then the work published in this book represents a profound link between the physical and the psychological. However, I really *wish* that some reputable scientists in the US would take up this research and re-test for validity and reliability.

It's very hard to take this work at face value, as the author uses his data(?) to extrapolate some far-fetched theories about the content of his photographs.

But DO buy the book and have a gander at the photos. Even if you have a few healthy questions about the content, I'll guarantee it'll change the way you look at the emotions you direct at your world.

Could have, should have, didn't. BTW, one star in this case means zero stars..., October 30, 2005
I purchased this book having read the reviews on Amazon first .... which just goes to show how variable we all are in our judgemental levels, Eh?
First, let's be quite clear on one thing, as the word 'science' is mentioned so often by other reviewers of this book; there is no science in this book what so ever. The methodology used (where one can divine it) to 'test' water crystals is completely undocumented, unregimented and without rigour. Any results reported in this book therefore MUST be seen as conjecture, and highly coloured conjecture at that. I really was hoping for something better. The text itself is just chock-full of unqualified statements about the author's conclusions, as in "we can see...." and "it can be inferred..." and so on, when in actuality it is far from clear to see and it really can't be inferred at all. My hackles were well and truly up by the time the author administered the Coup de Grace, and I quote: "It is universally accepted that there can be no life without water, and if we accept that water, the source of all life, was sent from Outer Space, then logic leads us to the conclusion that all life, including that of Human Beings, is alien to this planet."
At this point, having acute mental indigestion already from the preceding 57 pages of tripe, my brain exploded.

The photographs in this book have drawn praise in other reviews - they are of interest, much as snowflake photography, or ultra-high definition audio recordings of micro-sounds can be (the proverbial sound of a pin dropping - yes, you can buy that as a recording), however they are presented as some sort of tea-leaf devinition, which they most certainly are not. One may as well lie on one's back in a field and give anthropological descriptors to cloud-shapes... this sort of schoolboy activity is just as "scientific" as Emoto's claims for the water crystals.

To close, let me say that I am unable to finish this book - it is just too 'specualtive' in the worst "crysal gazing" manner. There was so much that *could* have been done with the research, that what is presented here is not merely disappointing, it is an insult to a promising area of "bleep research". Others have gone before in researching water and it's mysteries - I refer particulary to the German farmers who sing ancient tonal songs to buckets of water and stir it in a rhythm before sprinkling on their crops - they have done so for generations; or the nineteenth century forest warden who developed and produced specially shaped flumes to 'activate' water on it's way to crops, with impressive results. Alongside these empirical stories, this book full of extraordinary and unsupported assertions is just useless. Sorry, lads, this one will hurt your mind - keep away.

Fascinating theory, and -- if true -- scary as hell, February 7, 2006
I've been reading (and buying) more books lately that have New Age themes. For some reason, I seem to crave such knowledge -- especially regarding the environment and our spiritual ties to it.

The Hidden Messages in Water caught my attention immediately and quickly found its way to my home.

There's no way for me (as a layperson) to prove or disprove Dr. Emoto's thesis. I'd have to recreate his experiments and take incredible photographs of water molecules from all over the world. No way. One of the reviewers who claims to have a connection with Dr. Emoto gave me pause to wonder what's really going on behind the scenes with the man. Could all of this be a hoax? Sure it could.

But here's how I look at it: Even if his research methods are sloppy, I don't think that detracts from the message of his book. And his message is that water is crucial to life. Without it, we die. It's that simple.

What worries me about Dr. Emoto's detractors is that people may throw the baby out with the bath water (no pun intended). Let's look at the facts:

1. Human beings are made up of 70% water.

2. Pure, fresh water is becoming more scarce every day.

Hypothesis Question 1: What will happen to people (on a molecular level) when their sources of water are tainted?

Hypothesis Question 2: Is water "alive" and able to respond to environmental stimuli (much like plants)?

Hypothesis Question 3: How much like water are people? Meaning, if we study water, are we also studying ourselves?

My personal opinion (for whatever it's worth) is that I believe Dr. Emoto's research -- regardless of how far-fetched it may seem. Why? I'm not sure why. But I think it's because I can't argue with the facts. People are 70% water. The earth is 70% water. Interesting coincidence. I don't know what to make of that. But the coincidence is intriguing. Enough so that it gives me pause to dismiss Dr. Emoto's photographs and conclusions.

The conclusions derived from this line of thinking are staggering. What if water *does* react to environmental stimuli? Would that not mean that the earth, too, might also be "alive" in some sense, also reacting to environmental stimuli? Many religions and cultures down through the ages have affirmed as much. What if Dr. Emoto is finally proving that to be true?

Bottom line: I believe this book. I have no proof to back up that statement, however. I'm going by sheer gut feeling. I think there's more to this world that we don't see than we do see. For example, the fact that every solid object is really -- at the atomic level -- merely a collection of whirling protons, neutrons and electrons freaks me out. I can't see them. But scientists tell me they're there. In constant motion. Vibrating at a specific, unique frequency. So that, in reality, nothing is truly solid. I have no proof of that. Yet I believe it.

If Dr. Emoto's book does nothing except raise the level of awareness regarding the importance of water, I think it would have served its purpose. Even if water isn't alive as he claims, the fact remains that we can't live without it. We need to do all we can to preserve and protect it!

Read the book. Draw your own conclusions. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Gain insight on issues relevant to you and find some great tips and ideas for living your craft every day in Llewellyn’s indispensable Witches’ Companion. Stay one step ahead of the latest witchy trends and craft practices with the provocative and practical articles, how-tos, and lunar information inside this guide.

This year’s almanac features twenty-one thought-provoking essays on a variety of timely topics—the magical benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle, inviting house spirits to participate in rituals, finding magic on the Internet, and much, much more.

Must Pagans Do Everything Pagan?  by Barbara Ardinger

Conferring Celebrity Status on “Big Name Pagans”  by Boudica

Chakra Balancing and Tarot by Calantirniel 

Green Witch Initiation by Susun S. Weed

Personal Myths by Lupa

Written for busy modern witches, Llewellyn’s Witches’ Companion is the perfect complement to our Witches’ Calendar and Witches’ Datebook. 

Includes a sixteen-month calendar featuring lunar information to fuel your spellwork and rituals.

Reviews

Not quite what I was expecting, December 21, 2010
I ordered this thinking it would be something else. I read the word Almanac in the title and assumed that the monthly information would be a little more in depth than it is. OK, I figured it would be ALOT more in depth. Each month has a calendar and a horoscope but that us really it as far as year planning. Out of 281 pages, 34 are dedicated to actual information for 2011, the rest are articles that you would expect to find in a magazine or on someones blog.

Next year I will look more carefully when getting ready to buy an "almanac"

Disappointed, December 27, 2010
Bought this because I was so drawn to the front page art. After reading some of the articles I was fairly put off. It had slight complaining and dissing and just isn't for me. I wouldn't buy again next year. I may give it to one of my Coven members to see if they get the same feel I did and if not gift it to them. Not everyone will feel the same way I do about this.

bought book for yule give away, September 17, 2010
came in great codition
have bought this book for the last 10 years
and will buy it again

very informative, August 17, 2010
If you are looking for information, this is the companiion book for you...you will not be dissappoited... ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Accessible, Engaging, and Insightful, September 28, 2006
"To experience the tremendous value of working with animal spirit guides, you don't need to be a shaman, have any interest in shamanism, or be associated with an indigenous culture... Instead, consider these wonderful beings as spiritual allies that want to reach out to each and every one of us who are open to their guidance and, when called with sincere intent, will respond." - From the book

What does it mean when you see a frog on your doorstep in the morning, your sister calls you in the afternoon gushing about the cute little frog statue she got at a yard sale, and your child brings home a drawing of a frog that she made in pre-school? According to shamanic practitioner Steven Farmer, the animal spirit Frog may be trying to get your attention to deliver an important message!

Following on the heels of Power Animals, a fine introductory book with guided meditation CD, and the Power Animal Oracle Cards, Animal Spirit Guides: An Easy-to-Use Handbook for Identifying and Understanding Your Power Animals and Animal Spirit Helpers provides meanings and messages from over 200 creatures.

At Dr. Farmer's workshops, many participants would come up to him asking for insight about a particular animal, some that were unfamiliar to him. He decided to create an accessible guide for those seeking answers about repeated animal visitations, the meaning of animal totems/power animals, and which animal to call upon for specific situations and concerns. Thus, the 455-page Animal Spirit Guides book was birthed.

For each mammal, reptile, insect, fowl, or fish, Dr. Farmer offers three distinct methods for accessing animal wisdom, providing examples and possible meanings for each one:

* What it means when an animal makes a striking appearance or keeps popping up throughout a short time span
* When to call upon a particular animal and what its energy provides
* Personality correlations to an animal that happens to be your Power Animal

For example, Blue Jay visits me every once in awhile (quite insistently!), and happens to be one of my Power Animals. Under the Blue Jay entry, there are five explanations for what a visitation from this colorful bird may mean. In addition, there are four situations given for when a person may seek to call upon Blue Jay medicine, as well as four personality traits describing the individual that counts this bird among their Power Animals.

A black and white photo accompanies each animal entry, so you know exactly which animal is which (for those not commonly known or recognized). A written version of Dr. Farmer's guided meditation that's on the Power Animals CD is also included in this book.

Here are but a few of the animals featured in Animal Spirit Guides:

* Bee
* Cardinal
* Crab
* Crocodile
* Emu
* Gopher
* Kookaburra
* Ladybug
* Meerkat
* Penguin
* Praying Mantis
* Starfish
* Tasmanian Devil
* Wolverine

Dr. Farmer also explains the four ways to receive messages from Spirit Guides (Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic, and Cognitive), and how to interpret and understand these messages once they're recognized. The last part of the book is a topical list of various situations for looking up animals to invoke. For example, if you're seeking aid for mental agility and dexterity, you may call upon Ferret, Ocelot, Octopus, Opossum, Rabbit, Roadrunner or Snake. If you desire to overcome procrastination, you'd call upon Ant, Beaver, Bee, Cougar, or Manatee.

For those of you familiar with Ted Andrew's book Animal Speak, you may wonder how Dr. Farmer's book differs from that classic. Well, Andrews is incredibly thorough and scholarly in Animal Speak--providing description of animal coloring, habitat, habits, and traits--as well as relevant lore. He describes shamanistic practices such as animal rites and shape shifting--in addition to the wisdom, and interpretation, of animal spirit messages.

Animal Spirit Guides, on the other hand, doesn't give specific (or ponderous) animal information, instead providing a handy, practical guide that anyone can use. The animals are listed alphabetically, as are the conditions to invoke a particular spirit.

There *are* overlaps between these books. For example, all of the qualities that Dr. Farmer lists for Blue Jay as a Power Animal can be found in Animal Speak (although Dr. Farmer's version is more like Cliff Notes). However, other descriptions are original to Animal Spirit Guides, so Dr. Farmer's book is by no means a rip-off of Animal Speak.

If you'd like an easy-to-use book for looking up the messages from the animal spirit realm, Animal Spirit Guides is an *excellent* resource. No matter what your spiritual path, if you believe that the animals convey messages from Spirit to humanity, then you'll benefit from this book. I've found it amazingly insightful, especially as a divination tool. Just this evening, I was doing a Tarot reading for a client and I heard "Badger" right before I dealt the cards. I picked up Animal Spirit Guides off my desk and, wouldn't you know it, the message from Badger was *exactly* the issue displayed on the first Tarot card! And, you, too, can use this book as an oracle, just by saying a prayer and turning at random to a particular animal entry.

Study the Animals, for Knowledge, October 11, 2007
This book names various animals/mammals/insects (creatures) as power animals and animal spirit helpers/teachers. There are 455 pages of material, primarily explanations of about 215 creatures.

(Example: Beluga (white whale) (also see whale) pages 33 and 34.
If beluga shows up, it means your contact and perception of Spirit will increase and become clearer, chiefly through your hearing. It continues with several other one liners.
Call on beluga when: you find that your creativity is stifled or stagnant and you want to open it up. It continues with more on when to call on beluga.
If beluga is your power animal: you have an active imagination and the capacity to turn your visions into physical expressions and manifestations. Again, it continues with more information.)

The book includes specificities such as beluga (whale) and some not so common creatures such as Kookaburra (a bird), one of which I met in San Diego recently. The book also includes 32 pages of "whom to call on for specific needs" (example: for courage, call on the bear, eagle, and falcon, among others. A written 3-page guided meditation journey with instructions is included. There is also a resource reading, website, dvd, and organization list.

The author is a shamanic practitioner, ordained minister, licensed psychotherapist and former college professor with over 30 years experience as a professional healer and teacher. He is married to Doreen Virtue. Doreen has written numerous books and done numerous CDs on angels, and produced materials on dieting. They appear to compliment each other well. I saw both at her one-day seminar in Manhattan. She did angel readings. He assisted her and gave animal readings.

The general concept with animal/creature guides is that you are either drawn to certain animal(s) or you encounter certain animal(s) in an unusual way. Maybe as a child you were always fascinated with Unicorns. Maybe everywhere you go you see a single butterfly. The possibilities are endless. When something is out of the norm, it could be an indication that an animal guide is presenting himself to you. I was once told that we all have at least 3 animal guides and that they could change throughout life. Also, other animal guides can come in just to teach you something and then leave.

This book is useful as a tool in identifying and reading about the various animals. When you encounter a specific animal and you think that is a power animal or guide, you can run to the book and look him up.

Don't believe in that stuff? That's OK. You can still 1) have fun looking up the animals, and 2) study the behaviors of various animals and what you might learn from them. There is a lot to learn from the behavior of animals.

Want to read more about studying animals and "tuning into their vibes"? Try some of Ted Andrew's books, especially "Animal Speak". Ted's books give more explanation about the "why" and "how to". Personally, I like Ted's books for overall understanding and then this book for additional information on animals.

Great Reference Book, February 16, 2008
I have owned "Animal Speak" and it was lost a number of years ago. I think this book suits my purposed much better. It gives quick reference to specific animals, without the filler information. If someone is looking for general info on animal guides, and doesn't have a good handle on the subject--I would recomend purchasing this book along with "Animal Speak" They are both great resources.

Something I have been waiting for..., April 15, 2010
I am a big fan of Animal Speak and Animal Wise by Ted Andrews and had been looking for a thoroughly researched (like Andrews) but a different perspective on Animal Totems, and this was it. It is very informative, fun, and organized.I would recommend this to anyone who likes to work with Animals, Animal Magic, or Animal Totems.

Hope you find it as helpful as I did.

Does exactly what it's supposed to!, August 31, 2009
I've read other books about animal spirits and books that invovle shamanism. This is the only book that goes thoroughly into the description and meaning of the animal presented. If you want a legitimate book that you can rely on, this is most definitely the one to go with!

MONEY WELL SPENT!

Excellent book for journeying, September 12, 2009
I purchased this book as a recommendation for a journeying class I was taking and I found it to be not only very helpful for the class but an interesting, enlightening book for everyday. It has given me a new appreciation for the animal kingdom and is amazingly accurate. All you need to do is pay attention.

Animals Are Amazing!, August 20, 2009
I absolutely love this book! I wish there was more in depth information on each animal, but at least Farmer states in the beginning that if you want more info on the animals, to check his appendix and search online. Despite not explaining each animal, his ideas of what each animal stands for are spot on!

My power animal is Wolf, and for the first time ever, someone was able to help me understand my connection with her. My next purchase from Farmer will be his Power Animal book, CD, and cards. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to figure out their connection with the animal kingdom. It is truly a gem of its own kind.

Animal Spirit Guides, February 26, 2009
A great Book. So interesting to see the meanings of the animals that cross our paths to guide us. Exciting revelations.

One of the Most helpful books I have found, February 24, 2009
This is one of the books I recommend to the students in all my workshops. It extremely informative, easy to read, and well written. I have one at home and in the car, that way I can always look up whatever animals I can across on my journeys. The section on which animal guide to call upon for different reasons is something that I find extremely useful and so have many of my students.

Lovin' It~, February 23, 2008
I absolutely love this book. I am getting so much more information now after I got this book. I have it easily accessible because I am constantly getting animal images I then look it up in the book and the messages are relevant to what is going on in my life.
I had the earlier version of this book and felt guided to give it to a family member..And when I saw that he came out with this version with tons more animals I was SOO excited!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!
... Read more

Editorial Review

Forty years ago the University of California Press published an unusual manuscript by an anthropology student named Carlos Castaneda. The Teachings of Don Juan initiated a generation of seekers dissatisfied with the limitations of the Western worldview. Castaneda's now classic book remains controversial for the alternative way of seeing that it presents and the revolution in cognition it demands. Whether read as ethnographic fact or creative fiction, it is the story of a remarkable journey that has left an indelible impression on the life of more than a million readers around the world. ... Read more

Reviews

The Beginning of a Journey You Will Never, Ever Forget..., October 22, 2000
"The Teachings of Don Juan" is the first in a series of about 15 books by Carlos Casaneda describing the author's experiences with Yaqui Indian shamanism in Northern Mexico. As a studier of religion for many years (although not as knowledgeable as some scholars) I find these books to be utterly unique in their scope and subject matter. They are not like other New Age books. The journey that Castaneda takes his readers is mind-boggling, and his experiences are simply beyond what most people have even remotely encountered.

Castaneda first met Don Juan in the early 60's, before the hippy movement, before psychodelic drugs became popular. He was studying anthropology in Los Angeles, and Don Juan served as a field source for some fading knowledge of tribal and shamanistic rituals in Northern Mexico. Castaneda was specifically interested in peyote, a plant that gives its users hallicinations and mixes the senses in strange ways, and which LSD was meant to be a chemical reproduction of. Castaneda's first book presents a very detailed scholastic interpretation of his experiences. All books after the first simply focus on Castaneda's experiences with Don Juan.

Castaneda's drug experiences are different from other accounts I have read, because they are intimately tied with the Yaqui philosophy and mythology. The drugs only serve as a means to an end, not as the end in themselves. The first 2 books in the series describe Castaneda's drugs experiences with Don Juan, but from the 3rd book on, the drugs disappear forever and Carlos' experiences are actually more fantastic, more amazing, more unbelieveable as he slowly becomes a practicing sorceror, traveling to alternate dimensions and battling other sorcerors. Many of the books seem to reach a definitive conclusion, only to have Castaneda's perceived understanding of Don Juan's teachings completely destroyed in the next volume. Again these experiences do not in any way compare to magic and sorcery you might find in pagan, christian, or celtic mythology, nor does the "world-philosophy" of Don Juan resemble in any way the wholistic ideals of Eastern religions like Hinduism or Buddhism. How can you describe things most people have never seen before? Castaneda does a good job, considering the fantastic nature of some of his journeys. However, while the visions and magical feats are mesmerizing to read, I often found that Don Juan gave his most profound knowledge while simply talking to Castaneda.

Do to its subject matter, most Christians will find these books offensive, but I promise you that nothing in any of these volumes will turn you onto the path of Satan :) There is a certain participation required from the reader - Castaneda repeatedly affirms that everything he has ever written is absolutely true, but intelligent readers will be constantly wondering if such fantastic things could possibly exist. By turning off this little nagging "naysayer" in my own head and allowing myself to simply sink into the mood of the work and believe, I found that I was better able to intuitively understand the very abstract concepts that overwhelm you. However, because these accounts are SO unbelieveable, SO fantastic, SO unlike our everyday life here in the US, I found that I never confused my world with Castaneda's. It's like reading a book about walking on the Moon - you can understand and appreciate what it must have been like, but you don't start wearing a spacesuit to work!

An Excellent and Entertaining Book, April 4, 2002
I enjoy Carlos Castaneda's books because they always offer an escape from reality -- in this case, I mean that quite literally.

Castaneda's books involve an age-old technique of storytelling, the teaching of a body of knowledge from a master to a pupil. In this case, the master, a Yaqui Indian known as Don Juan, teaches the ancient Toltec art of sorcery to a young, first-person narrator, Carlos Castaneda. This narrator is dubious and incredulous as Don Juan shows him things about the nature of reality and our perceptions of it, but increasingly he has to conclude that the world of Don Juan is an accurate description of the may facets of reality, and our modern world is merely one narrow view.

There is controversy over whether Castaneda's books are "real" --Castaneda was granted a PhD for his "field" work; but other scholars have found a lot of Castaneda's research to have no anthropological authenticity. Supporters of Castaneda dispute this.

That there is even an argument over whether the books are "real" or not indicates how good the stories are -- like the world of J.R.R. Tolkien, people really, desperately want to visit Castaneda's world. His books are riveting, fascinating, beautiful, and also very scary.

Although later books in the series (Tales of Power, for instance) are better than this introductory work; I think it is important to read the books in their order of writing, in order to get the "lessons" that Castaneda learns in the correct order.

I am a great fan of the books, even if they are 100% fiction. But one is really just never sure if they are. . .

Entertaining but false, September 28, 2008
Having read several of Castanedas books and been strongly influenced by them as a youth, it was with great sadness that I subsequently found them to be almost completely imaginary. If you care to research Castaneda you will find that most of his experiences of flying through the air, encountering supernatural Mexican wisemen, receiving transcendental illumination etc etc happened while he was sitting in the library at UCLA. Many of the dates in the books are contradictory, much of the alleged herbal knowledge is potentially dangerous and essentially the bottom line is that you would be well advised to take all these books with a very large grain of salt. However that being said, they are fairly well written, quite entertaining and do contain some measure of truth after all. So go figure...

Shamans Consciousness, October 25, 2000
This Book allow you to connect to an ancient Indian Shaman collection of 'extreme knowledge into nature'a captivating and enthraling reading. You will walk through the writer's experiences of altered realities, and other dimentions, a confrontational, sometimes frightful journey. Through The writer Carlos learns to be masterful and have "intention" in all he does in his life. When he comes back to California he cannot leave his Shaman life behind. I unintentionally found this book to be psycologically powerful for me. My life has changed by not acepting less than full intention in all that I do. I own a metaphysical healing store in La Habra and bring the power of Carlos Castanada writings here every day. The story goes something like this: A young student Carlos Costanada, goes to Mexico to meet an old Indian man who knows about medicinal & hallucinogenic plants. Carols doesen't really like him at first. Their relationship develops into Shaman and apprentice. Carlos doesn't choose to be Don Yuan's apprentice. He is there to take notes, and to study all he can for his degree. For aproximently 10 years Carlos unites with The Shaman and goes through intrepid and exhilarating experiences, beyond his scholarly responsibilities. A brimming study of What it means to be on the path of a Shamans apprentice. Is it true? Carlos says it is. First you must read all the books. The first one, is the only one where there are drug induced rituals. Don Yuan explains this is needed for Carlos because of his 'limited western mind's ability to see another reality'. This is one of the controversies about the book. Perfectly written.

Enthralling book, but only until you realize it was all fantasy, January 24, 2008
That might not come from reading this book alone, as it is the most believable of the series. When I was a student, I like many others I know who will confess to having read a Castaneda book or two when pressed, went through a couple of years of Castanedism, reading the 8 classics 2 - 3 times each, and even the later four, quite different books a couple of times. Being someone who likes to give the benefit of the doubt until conclusive evidence proves otherwise, I must admit to only getting suspicious by Journey To Ixtlan, the third book. The second book, A Separate Reality, picks up on the supernormal happenings, but these are still within the realms of possibility when one considers Spiritualist literature. By Tales of Power, when at the end Carlos throws himself off a cliff and only survives by becoming pure perception, bouncing elastically back and forth 17 times between the two inherent realms of all creation, the tonal and the nagual, the game was up. In Carlos' terms, my assemblage point had just experienced a considerable shift into the realms of disbelief. The cocoon had burst. I read the remaining books still interested, but with the growing realization that I'd been had. Bizarre ideas not found in any other spiritual traditions, such as the necessity for people on the path of knowledge to kill their children to reclaim the power they'd lost to them, plus fill in the holes in their cocoons the children had caused, made me wary. This was surely not a philosophy the whole world should turn to, or else we'd be living in a fearful, lonely world with every man for himself.

However, this would be fine if the books weren't made out to be non-fiction. While I have seen these books placed with science fiction books in many libraries, in most European bookshops they're still sold with real, non-fiction 'Mind, Body, Spirit' books. The reason I give this book such a low rating is that an intensive study of his works, the books by his various colleagues, plus Richard De Mille's intelligent criticisms, can only lead to the conclusion that Castaneda, the writer, used Don Juan and Carlos, two fantasy characters, to verbalize his own beliefs, which were culled from his own spiritual and academic experience. That there are not some useful nuggets of wisdom, or advice in these books I do not deny. That is their very attraction, plus the belief that it all really happened, and is a new spiritual revelation. But as these are mixed up with increasingly bizarre assertions and beliefs (by the Art of Dreaming it seems all pretence at non-fiction had been given up), it is doubtful whether a lifetime devoted to these practices (as opposed to say, real shamanic practices) would lead to spiritual improvement. If you must have a Castaneda book in your library, rather get The Wheel of Time, a selection of the spiritual highlights of the first eight books, but consider it rather 'The best of the personal philosophy of Carlos Castaneda' than anything to do with Don Juan or Shamanism. This understanding may not have the romantic mix of wild Mexican deserts, ancient wisdom, wise old men and naive westerners which captures the hearts of so many, but it is a lot closer to the truth.

The anonymous ghost-writer at Schuster and Schuster who corrected Peruvian immigrant Castaneda's English for at least all of his earlier works (a sample of his writing from 1969 reveals it was still far from perfect, not like what is in books), giving the books their special character, certainly deserves more credit than he or she gets. But they are not written well enough to succeed as fiction, hence their continued classification as non-fiction, besides the intense academic embarrassment it would cause copyright holders UCLA to have to admit such a dramatic change in classification, from fact to fantasy, after having previously given the author a doctorate for his work! I give this book one star on the basis that any book claiming to represent the truth which is later found to be fraudulent deserves no stars by definition, so I must give the minimum rating allowed. The day this book is reclassified as Fiction, I will up my rating to 3 stars though, as it is a quite entertaining and authentic piece of fiction-posing-as-non-fiction.

At this point many a true believer will try play the only card they have left - the allegory or metaphor card, with the implication that the critic is not deep enough to have gathered that by now. However, there is a vital difference between a Castaneda book and an allegory - the latter always make it perfectly clear at the start that what follows is not to be taken as fact. A misunderstanding would mean losing the effect of the allegory. The Castaneda books, on the contrary, always start out with the reassurance that what follows is definitely fact. As UCLA Library stack request records prove that Castaneda was sitting in the library on the exact dates when he was supposed to be hanging out with Don Juan, it is thus fair to say that these books are neither factual nor allegorical.

If you have bought the book already, I might as well warn you not to waste any time on the Structural Analysis at the end. That was only placed there to make a point for Castaneda. Coming after the gripping narrative of the Teachings, the impossibly dry and intentionally unreadable analysis in academic jargon is merely meant to score points for Castaneda's one-time anthropological field of phenomenology, which is basically scientific reporting of the first-hand, direct experience type. Hopefully no true believers have fallen for Castaneda's joke and wasted time actually wading through it - I doubt it'll have done you more spiritual good than throwing yourself off a cliff.

Experiments in syncretism and applied allegory, January 25, 2005
"In the course of Castaneda's books, the reader may begin to doubt the existence of the Indian Don Juan, and many other things besides. But that has no importance. So much the better if the books are a syncretism rather than an ethnographic study, and the protocol of an experiment rather than an account of an initiation" (Deleuze and Guattari, A Thousand Plateaus, pp 161-162).

Why not think of this as an experiment, or a literary lab report? Castaneda's project is to transform threads from Nietzsche and Gurdjieff and folk life into practice. In what way did he turn into a crow? It's for you, dear reader, to decode Castaneda's testimony. I like this kind of reading, myself; the genre of experiment and sly reporting I find quite rewarding. You just can't take it literally. (It's a dumb idea to assume the literal reading of any book is the best reading of all books.)

Other extremely valuable volumes in this clever genre include: Beelzebub's Tales to His Grandson (Gurdjieff), Matrix of Mystery (H.V. Guenther), Creative Meditation and Multidimensional Consciousness (Govinda), A Thousand Plateaus (quoted above), and most importantly Tarthang Tulku's Time Space Knowledge series and the Shambhala books of Chogyam Trungpa.

Homage to Sukhasiddhi and all true teachers.

A Must Read, December 29, 1999
For anyone interested in spiritual guidance that is far from ordinary, but warmly uplifting, should read this book. Castaneda is a wonderful author who thoroughly explains his visits to see the sorceror don Juan Matas. During these visits the reader comes to many spiritual realizations along with Castaneda, who narrates the story. This book is a delightful read which I recommend to anyone who likes to read. period

Shows you doors that only the brave need to open., May 20, 1998
My first reading of CC's book, "The Teachings..." occurred back in 1975. I have read it many more times since then. What this book did was help me establish once and for all, that there does exist the realm of the unexplained/unexplainable. Things do happen to us that we are much too frightened to confide in others, for fear of reprisals. Left alone we begin to question our own sensibilites and in an act of self-preservation dismiss this part of our reality.

What CC does for us is help verify and describe these unexplained/unexplainable events. It is a journey that only the pure of heart and courageous can attempt.

A new understanding for the love of Peyote and Mescalito., April 7, 1997
Carlos Castaneda's "The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui way of Knowledge" is a vivid yet dark and spiritually disturbing novel of Carlos' experience with the teachings of the Indian Yaqui knowledge led by his mentor Don Juan. Carlos Castaneda takes us through his own spiritual journey to become "a man of knowledge" being the strongest and fearless man with a heart to love. His expressive writing allows you to become engulfed in his mind and to feel his emotions. Brilliantly done, this novel has moved many and will continue to do so as Carlos Castaneda and his experience makes each and every one of his readers question their own spiritaul guidance, and maybe one day have the desire to become a man of knowledge. "For me there is only the traveling on paths that have a heart, on any path that may have heart. There I travel, and the only worthwhile challenge is to traverse its full length. And there I travel, looking, looking breathlessly." -Don Juan

First on my list of recommended reading, June 18, 2002
I cannot recommend this book and those that follow too highly. While this "introduction" may be less engaging than the books that follow, that means only that it is merely very engaging, rather than obsessively engaging. I see from previous reviews that the "fact or fiction" debate still rages. To those who have not yet read any of the books, I would say only this on that matter: If you "get" these books, the "fact or fiction" debate is less than irrelevant. To those about to begin, I wish you well on the journey. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Scholarship has a problem, October 21, 2010
Scholarship has a Problem

This is the tragedy of trying to understand with the mind what needs a different organ of understanding. A Story Waiting to Pierce You, (p. 12).

All of Peter Kingsley's books address the sacred unrecognized source of western civilization. In A Story Waiting to Pierce You he traces this tradition back to ancient Mongolia, and to an epochal meeting between Pythagoras and Abaris the Hyperborean. So right away we are straddling both ancient Greek scholarship and myth, and we have a problem. Very few scholars can deal with myth as reality, because they are considered depictions of psychological phenomena, or euhemeristic, that myths are just fanciful retold historical events. However, myth and revelation are intrinsically connected, and all civilizations begin in revelation.

And although western civilization didn't begin with thinkers thinking it up, it is ending in thought, and thinking won't spring any of the traps we have cornered ourselves into--be they ecological, political, financial or religious. Thinkers thought about what consciousness is, then thought even harder, then taught the coldness of their own uncertainties. Hopelessly unaware that the source of human thinking can never be grasped by thinking, they started playing their great guessing game... (p 54).

A Story Waiting to Pierce You bridges this divide between the scholarly and the mytho-poetic, and this is what is needed now. As G.I. Gurdjieff noted, newspapers have seriously damaged our ability to read, because all we are after is information. And it is this habit of mistaking information for wisdom that has us at an impasse with our civilization, an impasse beautifully addressed at the end of the book in the myth of the impenetrable mountains.

Yet the scholarship needs to be addressed, because the world we are generating is a very solid affair, and the reality of its mythic origins a memory of a memory. So we need a way to make the mythic real for us, and Kingsley has done this by providing in the first half of A Story Waiting to Pierce You a riveting poetic web of stories, and in the second half underpinning them with pervasive notes, organized in palatable sections. I know for a fact that some of the greatest scholars of ancient Greek culture vetted this book--their names are noted in the acknowledgements--and in spite of their skepticism, found every reference accurate.

If you don't want to take my word for it, Peter Kingsley's A Story Waiting to Pierce You has been reviewed in the new Parabola by Thomas Moore. He does a great job of tying the aspects of shamanism, ancient philosophy, and the practices of Mongolia and Tibet into what it has to do with our daily, spiritual life.

A Story Waiting to Pierce You is like a beautiful carpet. On the visible side, the first half of the book, there are these mysteriously interwoven historical characters: Pythagoras, Abaris and Hermotimus in Ancient Greece, purifying and preparing the ground for western civilization under the aegis of Apollo; Genghis Khan cleansing the dross from and nearly unifying the world with supernatural one-pointedness; and there are Altan Khan and S�nam Gyatso, the third Dalai Lama and the true tale of how the Dalai Lamas came to rule Tibet, and the effect that had on the existing shamanic traditions. There are magic arrows, phurbas, musical warfare, Amerindian reincarnation and how it all relates to America. And if you know how to look at this carpet, it gives you an aesthetic experience of unity, of wholeness.

And if you want to know how the carpet was made, there is the second half of A Story Waiting to Pierce You, filled with annotated notes essential to the construction of its warp and weft, the knotting and the dyeing. It's a feast for the real scholar, one unafraid of venturing outside of grad school guidebooks and able to dig treasure without a map.

Maybe this book is the solution, the start of something new, a combination of scholarship and poetics unseen since, well, the start of western civilization. Which is when, as we read in Kingsley's other books, Parmenides and Empedocles wrote their love of wisdom in verse, well-versed in the sacred tradition they were bringing as a gift to us, and that can continue to carry us into the future, if only we put the mind in its proper place, in service to the divine within us all.

That's not an arrow...., October 9, 2010
As with all of Peter's books, this one is a profound esoteric experience between covers. It's a short read and you can finish it in 1-2 hours. His thesis? The philosophical / mystical dichotomy between East/West is an illusion, the seed of Western civilization began with a wanderer from down off the Tibetan plateau and everything we've (in the West) thought intrinsically our own is, in fact, shared with Eastern civilizations as well. There's also some great and thought-provoking material about the esoteric conflict behind it all and even perhaps an answer to why the Mongols took so long to thoroughly destroy the Isma'ili fortress at Alamut.

The effect of it, however, will take many more hours to manifest. You may find yourself thinking of it days later and still ruminating over its points. It might even cause you to have a spiritual crisis, after which things will not look the same. It's all to the good, though.

The 'notes' section is almost as long as the book itself and will provide the interested and curious with many months of further research. You can also go to his website (Google his name) and obtain his audio recordings, which go into much more detail over several years of his explorations and findings.

In short: an authentic esoteric practicioner who has shared his discoveries, which in turn might just redefine the way we view our world.... and maybe just in time.

Get it. Read it. Think about it. Follow the clues.

X.

Essential ..., October 9, 2010
This book has the power to take you right to the root of your own essence if you will allow it. For those willing to leave behind everything they think they know, this story will transform and guide. Read it again and again and each time you will hear your life being sung back to you in a way that is utterly new and yet completely in tune with what you have always known. This is truly a message for our time.

It's time, October 8, 2010
This book--as well as Peter Kingsley's other works--will reveal themselves to be the touchstones of a reality bursting at the seams to emerge. Those who are dreaming the new story into existence will appreciate the profundity and timing of this great prophetic work; for it is nothing short of prophecy. Yet it is our history, as well. All of ours, collectively.

Words fail to express my gratitude to Mr. Kingsley for bringing forth his gift as our gift.

Buy it. Read it over and over. Leave it on your nightstand so that your dreams will be infused with its prose and poetry. Most importantly, remember to enjoy the ride.

gripping and beautifully written, October 11, 2010
A Story Waiting to Pierce You reads like high adventure set in ancient times and remote places, but this concise story is primarily about the adventure of discovering one's self and the surprising origins of western civilization. Embark upon this adventure. You won't regret it.

If you developed a craving for more gripping and beautifully written narratives, built on impeccable scholarship, savor Peter Kingsley's previous works, especially his masterful Reality.

The Quiver, October 31, 2010
Reading Peter Kingsley's work, and now this new book, 'A Story Waiting to Pierce You', is like waking up from a dream with a magical symbol that you carry and allow to work on you. Kingsley's mission (or transmission) is an uncompromising journey back to our origins for a purpose that you must discover for yourself, Alone.

Thomas Moore, in his review in the Winter 2010 issue of Parabola, says, "Shift from the left-brain Apollo that has brightened your life, to the god of ecstasy portrayed in this book. Walk like you've never walked before. Let the arrow pierce you."

This challenge and surrender evoke breath-taking wonder for many, and anger or defensiveness for some, evidenced in a few vitriolic reviews on this site and the blogosphere. The arrow is true in finding its mark, and it's shattering of the breastplate not always welcomed.

If you welcome, even seek the shattering, read this book. And then, let it read you.

A Seeker's Delight, October 10, 2010
A seeker's delight. A story well told.

Kingsley unfolds for us the unlikely tale of the meeting of the inventor of the word "philosophy", Pythagoras, and a Mongol shaman who recognizes him as an incarnation of the god they share. It's the ramifications of this moment in history that constitute the rich material for Kingsley's presentation of the mind that founded the precepts of Western Greek culture.

With painstaking care Kingsley continues to recover the "golden thread" of the wisdom tradition preserved in the foundations of contemporary culture and civilization. His story carries a message that points the way in a world that has become lost in infinite possibilities.

living words, November 19, 2010
Some years ago I heard a voice in a dream saying: It is about something very beautiful. Not about flowers, but words which have life and give life. That was the deam. Now I am holding books white words like those in my hands, and I read them over and over. It is about Peter Kingsley,s works.

A Story Waiting to Pierce You and his other books; Ancient Philosophy Mystery,and Magic,In the Dark Places of Wisdom and Reality and his talkings on CD are for me the answer on my long longing to 'meet' One Who Knows.

My warmest recommendation to everyone is to read A Story Wating to Pierce You and Peter Kingsleys other books and let his words become alive in you.

A golden arrow lying within the heart, November 16, 2010
Here within the pages of Peter Kingsley's new book one begins to experience, at least I did, the extraordinary, real sense of a remote, dangerous, far away land, not a place without connection to where we live now but one closely linked to us; one senses, hears a call from afar that feels completely unknown, strange, but that sounds a note vaguely, oddly familiar; one is greeted, lovingly, by a people at once foreign, alien, yet intimately related to us, as if one is offered the lucky chance, once upon a lifetime, to meet for the first time distant ancestors, travelers, who have long since passed away; one feels the immediacy of an ancient past, not a history lesson disconnected from today, but a true story urgently needed here and now; and one begins, while reading this remarkable tale, to remember a presence that has long since been lost, buried, and one feels gradually the necessity, no matter the cost, waiting to awaken an inner understanding of nothing less than the purpose of our lives, a golden arrow lying within the heart, in the roots, of this ancient tradition and our own civilization.

The answer is here -- when you're ready, November 1, 2010
To the questions:
"Why are we here?
Why is the World falling apart and why will none of our institutions stop it.
Why have we, except for technology, gone backwards, culturally when it seems like the Greek culture, the Egyptian culture and many many others were so advanced."

Peter Kingsley gives an amazing answer, and it is that there has always been a mystic tradition, common to the entire race of Man that, if developed, will mature us into True Human Beings.

His book, A Story waiting to Pierce You, develops his premise beautifully and convincingly. It is the tale of a shaman, partly told with shamanic power symbols (the wolf, the impenetrable mountain, the arrow), partly told with Peter's impeccable scholarship and research.

We can rest assured that this will come to pass, though there may be some world wide extinctions between now and then; and that it will be a golden age.

In the mean time we can develop some of the practices he reveals, that will lead to passably golden lives for individuals, right now. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Today, practicing shamanism doesn't mean you haveto live in a rain forest or a desert. Thanks to a modernrenaissance of shamanic spirituality, practitioners fromall walks of life now use powerful indigenous techniques for healing, insight, and spiritual growth. With Awakening to the Spirit World, teachers Sandra Ingerman and Hank Wesselman bring together a circle of renowned Western shamanic elders to present a comprehensive manual for making these practicesaccessible and available in our daily lives, including:

• How the original practice of shamanism shaped the world's spiritual traditions and why it is still relevant today
• The art of the shamanic journey--a time-tested meditative method for experiencing important spiritual lessons and truths
• Guidance for avoiding common pitfalls of shamanic practice
• Instruction for working with your dreams, connecting to your spirit guides, healing yourself and your environment
• A CD of drumming to facilitate your shamanic journeys

Reviews

Remember your true origins......., March 4, 2010

Should be top of the list for Shamanic Studies, March 15, 2010

Tapping into your own wisdom, March 9, 2010

Exploring the Mystical Life, June 6, 2010
"Awakening to the Spirit World" is an excellent overview that covers a lot of ground, giving us a bit of history of the beginnings of shamanism, the indigenous cultures that have nurtured the teachings, and how their spiritual leaders, whether they be called shamans, medicine men, or something else, have tapped into the supernatural and touched the unknown, become acquainted with their spirit animals, wandered the inner worlds, and received revelation. Sandra Ingerman and Hank Wesselman have brought us other voices to join them in this volume: Tom Cowan, Carol Proudfoot-Edgar, Jose Luis Stevens, and Alberto Villoldo. All of them have their own experience to add to this wide-ranging teaching, and if you read this book with an open mind, I have no doubt that you will get nuggets of pure wisdom from it.

I have some favorite sections: Carol Proudfoot-Edgar on working with our animal companions in Chapter 2, "The Shamanic Journey," a chapter where we learn exercises to prepare and travel on our own personal journey. Chapter 7, "Creative Art as a Bridge," which talks of the power of words, and how we can heal and bless with what we say. Chapter 11, "All Change Involves Death," and the erasing of personal history to remove the emotion out of past events that prevent us from moving forward. Among the things that blessed me most in the book was Hank Wesselman's respectful version of the Lord's Prayer in Chapter 5. Saying it aloud is transformative.

The book includes a CD with 4 pieces of drumming and other instruments, specifically made for journeying, that is most helpful. Total time is 62.21, enough time to journey and to relax (this is especially useful for city-dwellers, to drown out any extraneous noises).

a great review and open door, August 3, 2010
What makes this work important to me is that the healing of the planet depends on our renewed ability to merge our consciousness with the natural order. Without that, we are homeless and an offense to the web of life. We need to find our belonging to have the necessary empathy for what is truly sacred, all that is given, not invented by us, that lives on its own, as gifts to us, and for which we, with our big brains and straight spines, are stewards. Collectively, we are miserable stewards and those with empathy must be disappointed in us, heartbroken. One of the most inspiring findings in the journeys that H. Wesselman reports in his trilogy is that technology itself passes away as unsustainable and leaves the natural order, life itself, in place of the awful businesses of extraction and depletion of resources. We really cannot go on this way. Life won't let us. Healing and connecting with what is real and true is the business of the shamanic path. It is the door to remembering our own sacred place in the web of life. Maybe it's too late but I think we ought not betray our potential by giving up or forgetting that we are, ourselves, created and life, itself, supreme. Here's one way to get back to that original garden. For me, another way is described in Vladimir Megre's Ringing Cedar Series, Book IV, Co-Creation. If you can't read all of them, read that one.

Good Info on the Shamanic Path, May 9, 2010
This 2010 book by Sandra Ingerman and Hank Wesselman, with comments from Tom Cowan, Carol Proudfoot-Edgar, Jose' Luis Stevens, and Alberto Villoldo is 329 pages, packed with good usable information, tools, and meditation suggestions. I found this an excellent book on Shamanic concepts.

Shamanism is an ancient spiritual practice from all over the world, a focused meditation that accesses the spiritual world while achieving a one-ness with nature. As a way of life, shamanism can transform the life of the person who practices it. (If you watched the popular television series "Walker, Texas Ranger," that show often had aspects of shamanism in it.)

This book explains what shamanism is in greater detail, continuing with shamanic journeying, reconnecting with nature, visionary work with weather and environmental changes, ceremony and ritual, dreams, creative art(s) as bridges to the other worlds, working with sound and light, death, change, children, community work, transformational work, and much more. When you actually read this book, you will see the detailed explanations and examples to help you to move forward, if you feel a calling in this direction.

I think it is important to say that you do not have to go away and live in a tent somewhere to become part shaman. If you are into spirituality, you are likely already practicing a connection to nature, animals, spirit guides right from your home with running water and flush toilets. (My 36 year old son has sensitivity to animals, but also one to insects that absolutely amazes me.)

So, let's take a look at chapter 8, "Working with Sound and Light" for an example. This particular chapter is 21 pages long. It begins by explaining how sound has been used for healing since the beginning of time and how Westerners have begun to get on the band wagon over the last 40 years with vocal toning, Tibetan singing bowls, crystal bowls, tuning forks, and various types of music harmonics recordings. It continues with an explanation on drumming and healing, and how it affects the immune system. Then we discuss the power of singing with passion, and of finding our own power song--allowing it to move its vibration throughout your body (with a how to explanation) and an example of how you might receive your power song. We learn a lot more about healing and singing, based on the Shipibo (Indians) and their icaros (healing songs). Throughout the chapter, the various authors comment. We also have an exercise of how we can find the song of a plant. Then we move to working with stones of light (crystals). An explanation of what this metaphysical "light" means follows in detail along with an exercise for transfiguration, an explanation of the human spirit, and how one maintains a spiritual state.

The chances are, if you have been led to this book, you will likely get a lot out of it, even if just an overall education. But, most likely, you will see parts of yourself that are already somewhat shamanistic.

Walking the Shamanic Path, May 3, 2010
Sandra Ingerman is widely acclaimed for bringing ancient cross-cultural healing methods into modern culture. She teaches workshops internationally on shamanic journeying, healing, and reversing environmental pollution. Her co-author, Hank Wesselman, is a paleoanthropologist and shamanic teacher. Both have woven their teachings and insight with the contributions of other shamanic practitioners to create a very accessible and enlightening book, complete with CD. The CD of drumming, rattling and whistling invites shamanic journeying to the Lower World where you might encounter the spirits of animals; the Upper World and a dreaming of gods, goddesses and ancestors; and the Middle World, where you can encounter the "hidden folk": faeries and elves.

Does that sound frightening? Think of this shamanic journeying as a form of meditation that opens you to personal growth, healing and an interconnectedness to all that is. As Ingerman describes it, shamanism is "a way of life in which we honor and respect the spirit that lives in all things. This way considers how you live to be more important than what you do."

This doesn't mean you will become a shaman if you follow the practices described in the book. Shamanism is a calling and the term "shaman" is "a mantle bestowed upon the practitioner by his or her community and is based upon the individual's abilities to stand and deliver the goods as a healer or as a diviner of information on behalf of others."

In some ways, the authors point out, "the way of the shaman is the way of the child." As children, many of us had "imaginary friends" who, as Wesselman points out, "were actually real spirits who were looking after us." Isn't it unfortunate that we were probably discouraged from keeping such comforting friends at around the age of eight or ten? We can connect to them again and in fact, children can be encouraged to maintain their connection to their visionary abilities by keeping the conversations going between them and their parents. That's one way "to keep the imaginal realms alive for the children of today's world," as Ingerman points out.

The book includes guidelines for creating rituals and ceremonies; reconnecting with nature by connecting with place and the ancestors of that place; working with dreams, songs and artistic vision; honoring the cycles of life and death; and building a shamanic community based on support and shared purpose.

by Mary Ann Moore
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

A very good beginners guide to shamanism, June 17, 2010

How To book on shamanic journeying for the beginner, May 19, 2010
Sandra Ingerman, a renowned teacher of shamanic practices and author, has added a new book to her body or work on shamanism. The latest addition, "Awakening to the Spirit World, the Shamanic path of Direct Revelation" is a beginners guide to shamanic journeying. It is coauthored by Hank Wesselman, also a well known writer on Hawaiian shamanism.


If you have always been interested in shamanism and were either not able to take a workshop or did not know where to start then this book is for you. It includes a CD one can use for shamanic journeying or even for meditation. Even the advanced practitioner will enjoy the CD.


Sandra Ingerman also published a CD set called "Shamanic Meditations" that will guide the shamanic new comer through various types of journeys. This is a must have for the beginner. ... Read more

Editorial Review

We are thirteen indigenous grandmothers. . . . We are deeply concerned with the unprecedented destruction of our Mother Earth, the atrocities of war, the global scourge of poverty, the prevailing culture of materialism, the epidemics that threaten the health of the Earth’s peoples, and with the destruction of indigenous ways of life.

We, the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers, believe that our ancestral ways of prayer, peacemaking, and healing are vitally needed today. . . . We believe that the teachings of our ancestors will light our way through an uncertain future.

Reviews

URGENT BOOK FOR OUR TIMES, January 1, 2007
Carol Schaefer's GRANDMOTHERS COUNSEL THE WORLD is a timely book. These indigenous grandmothers have a visionary message of healing for our Earth Mother, and it's time we listen to these holy women and walk in balance again. I urge everyone to read this excellent book, and then read it again!

Take Heed!, January 9, 2007
These women have no agenda other than to protect our childrens inheritance, the earth. Since they are not distracted by making a living, raising children, and all the other things that we get focused on, they can give their full attention to the actual changing of all the things we rely on to live, like the air, water, land, etc. This is an excellent book.

Take an Intimate Journey of Light and Love, January 8, 2007
Thank you Carol for the gift of this book.It not only blessed me with timeless and beautiful messages I will treasure,but also took my heart and mind on a quest to remember all the ancient prophecies, the sacred path of traditional healing, and a window to the sacred love that is there for all of us. I pray that you will be moved as I am to read this book and walk the path to wisdom and balance.

A Grandmother & Healthcare Professional, December 10, 2006
The Grandmothers introduce themselves to us and at the same time begin to share some of their stories with us. This is a book I want to share with my grandchildren so they will always remember the beauty of the Earth!!I love it when Grandmother Agnes says that the most important journey we can make today is that 14 inches from the head to the heart!!

Listen to the Grandmothers, November 27, 2007
Thirteen grandmothers from around the world joined together in October 2004 in Phoenicia, N.Y. in fulfillment of a long-standing prophecy. Their gathering was in response to a call to action from the Grandmothers of the Sprit World.

As a result of their meeting, they formed the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers. The purpose of the Council is to use prayer, healing, ceremonies and plant medicine to stop the destruction of Mother Earth and to restore balance and harmony to the world.

Listen to each Grandmother tell her individual story. Then listen to the collective wisdom of the Grandmothers as they guide our thoughts to prophecy, women's wisdom, sacred relations, Mother Earth, oppression, nature's pharmacy and prayer. Their advice is simple, direct and from the heart and backed by the Spirit ancestors and by the practices of indigenous communities around the world.

The effectiveness of the Grandmothers' cumulative wisdom depends on our absorbing the words of the Grandmothers in order to receive a direct transmission of their thoughts and advice so that we are inspired to take action on behalf of global unity and to assume personal responsibility for living out their wisdom in our daily life, our community and wherever we touch Mother Earth.

We too can walk in their footsteps if we open ourselves to what they have to say to us in this book and if we breath in the essence and spirit of their teachings.

Wonderful, inspiring, and IMPORTANT!, May 24, 2007
This is a lovely book, with in depth looks at some very formidable and interesting ladies! I had the pleasure (blessing, really) of meeting Agnes Baker-Pilgrim and Flordemayo this month, and they are truly awe inspiring. I can only imagine all 13 of them together! The book is well written, inspiring (especially to women), and carries an important message. The traditional ways are slipping away from the majority of the people on Mother Earth, and materialism is taking hold. People who hold spirituality and a connection to Mother Earth sacred are becoming rare jewels. The Grandmothers encourage each of us to stop and listen to the world, to open our eyes and SEE rather than just look. Don't just speak... walk your talk, as Grandmother Agnes would say!

The Grandmothers shall lead the way, January 11, 2007
This book is a wonderful and inspiring tale of the hearts and souls of these great women. They have been off in their own corners of the world connecting with the divine and working and praying for the health of the planet. Under the leadership of Joyti and the others they have been brought together to share and begin to light a fire in the rest of us. This is a book that should be read by every person who has concerns about our civilization. Women will especially connect with the spirit of the grandmothers and know deep down that they are on the right path - and want to march along with them. Or perhaps be reassured if we have felt alone on the path already.

Indigenous Grandmothers carry hope for humanity, August 31, 2007
This is a quick read due to the intriguing spiritual connections and prophecy found in the various corners of the world through the stories of the Grandmothers. Their wisdom is so grounded and exhibits Universal Truths. They have deep understandings of what is needed to evolve and mature humankind. They also speak forthrightly of what changes are required IF we are to survive our own mishaps. The book highlights the importance of awakening and acknowledging the Oneness of All. It is a call to step forward with courage and endeavor to bring healing to our world.

Reason for Hope, February 25, 2007

Without this book, I would have had no idea this gathering of great women had taken place, nor would I known these women. Now I feel we have been introduced and they are part of my life and thought. This is a privilege. Thank you Carol for your writing and thank you Jyoti for bringing the women together.

A moving, inspirational book., April 10, 2007
These grandmothers have so much to say to us, and Carol Schaefer has done a wonderful job of making their voices heard. Our world will be a much better place if we follow the grandmothers' counsel. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Great, beautiful, accurate! and powerful!!, November 3, 2010
Love this cards!! My favorites until now., they have great, large, and beautiful drawings, I sense it very emotional, I Ask some questions and they are perfectly accurate. The companion book is also great, has a lot of explanations and long advices. Great oracle for shamans, wiccans, Yoga practitioners and anyone who felt the need of the earth magic.

My favorite cards are: Dawn-new beginnings: shows a great dawn in a lonely beach with a mountain behind. New Moon- Promise: shows a couple sitting on a bench watching the sunset (just Beautiful) Mountain - Strength : Shows a big mountain cover with snow, and a lake. Shaman - Ancient healing wisdom: shows a close up to the face of a shaman (great knowledge) Gaia- nurturing: shows the spirit of Gaia on the sky with a lot of color, Gaia is made of a collage of animals and flowers, watching and blowing over a green valley (beautiful and colorful)

Great Job Mr. Farmer, thanks for your effort to give us this beautiful, powerful and emotional oracle.

Fantastic, November 21, 2010
I am an avid collector of decks and also a reader and I have to say that Earth Magic is Steven's best deck to date. The images used in the cards leave no doubt as to their meaning, making this a fantastic deck for people who have just started using card decks. For more experienced readers, these cards offer deeply grounded readings that nurture as well as guide. You can feel the healing and supporting energies resonate through each and every card.

In a market where many of the available decks are sugar coated fluff, it is wonderful to see one that truly shines with integrity. Whether you are doing a multi card spread for information on a complex issue or drawing a single card to use as your theme for the day, you will not be disappointed with the Earth Magic Oracle cards.

The Best Yet!, November 19, 2010
I am an oracle card fanatic (tarot, angel, shamanic, etc), and a Steven Farmer fan. I own all of his products, and in my opinion, this is the best yet. The booklet that accompanies the cards is very well written. It is imformative and education all on its own. The cards are beautiful and the art work was wonderfully chosen. One of the things I love about the cards is their very clear meanings. For instance, the Rain card is symbolic of Purification. The Ocean card is about the Ebb and Flow of the situation.

I absolutely love this deck. Well done, Dr Farmer, well done! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Still Great Value, January 16, 2007
I've followed with interest Gregg Braden's pioneering work over the years, on the Zero Point, the Science of Compassion, the Isaiah Effect, and the God Code. This latest text by him is presented in three parts:

Part I, "Discovering the Divine Matrix: The Mystery That Connects All Things,"
Part II, "The Bridge Between Imagination and Reality: How the Divine Matrix Works,"
Part III, "Messages from the Divine Matrix: Living, Loving, and Healing in Quantum Awareness,"

Initially I was skeptical that The Divine Matrix was more likely a commercialized repeat of those earlier works since his joining the Hay House Club. However, I was delighted to be proven wrong, and found myself uplifted by his blend of personal story telling and how the latest findings in the quantum science world contribute to his own personal self-realizations. Although I felt aspects of the scientific connections he made in The God Code were drawing a long bow, this is less the case in the Divine Matrix, as the scientific references he makes are to more readily accessible mainstream, published works done by others. The Divine Matrix is an "educated hypothesis" co-related to his life experience, based on some key scientific experiments and findings from sacred manuscripts, rather than a pure work of science. Those readers looking for a pure science text are likely to be disappointed.

Yes - the Divine Matrix includes 20 Keys summarizing the more important concepts of the Divine Matrix and how to consciously create within it. Personally, I found this approach slightly over-complicated. Life is much simpler, and every time we create a so called Key or rule, we create belief systems and conditions, which vested interests then spend precious energy arguing about who's experience of these is right or wrong. For me, we are One Being; Many Realities, rather than Many Beings; One Reality. It's fruitless to argue anyone's reality is "the rule" or more right than anyone else's. I would have felt more comfortable if he had prefaced these concepts by stating "Gregg's Perception of the 20 Keys" rather than the "Absolute Keys of the Divine Matrix."

A wise person once said, "God has no need for rules, only Humans do".

Overall, I found the Divine Matrix a delight and easy to read. I recommend it to those who might be familiar with the general gist of the findings from the Quantum World, and might be wondering, what difference does this really make to our daily lives, without the hype or jargon. For more experienced readers this is really a synopsis of his previous work, videos and lectures. For me, it's his personal stories that provide the enrichment. Still great value.

A Good Read Perhaps, But Often Quite Annoying, February 8, 2007
I was initially attracted to this book by a referral from another Hays House author's email. And being a consciousness researcher and a big fan of The Matrix movie, how could I not be attracted to a book entitled "The Divine Matrix"?

I eagerly awaited the book to arrive from Amazon. When it arrived, I immediately started to delve into the text. Pretty soon I found myself getting annoyed. I stopped to reflect "why"? What was being triggered within? The simple answer is that the author's conclusions do not follow the examples. Repeatedly, Mr. Braden presents an overview of a series of (quantum physics) experiments and draws a series of conclusions from each one. Unfortunately, one or more of these conclusions do not seem to follow "logically" from the experimental results described. Sometimes a conclusion is simply inserted and repeated as an obvious fact, as if repeating often enough makes it true.

In all fairness, I must disclose that I have been reading, studying and absorbing quantum physics ideas since early high school. I have been immersed in a hybrid Buddhist-quantum perspective since that time, as well:

In the Buddhist world view, we are all stuck in karmic cycles of cause and effect - suffering from delusions and root fears due to these delusions. Because of the matrix that interconnects all transitory things ("holographically"), the karmic effects of delusion will never be eliminated until all beings are transformed into Buddhas. To acheive this is the primary goal of any thinking, feeling person. Thus, each person applies him/herself to this transformation NOW, not waiting for a more convienent time or a different life. Each person walks the path of Dharma teachings with the goal of transforming self so as to be of service transforming all other beings. In this process, meditation, visualization, the energy of emotions and so forth are applied. A key practice is that of "taking on" the energy or form of a Buddha, pretending in the present moment to be that which you are not (yet). Over time, this forms an energetic space in which you actually become that which is imagined. The goal is to transform not simply self, but to transform the shared world of delusion into the Pure Land of Bliss.

I mention this Buddhist outlook because it embodies thru daily practice many of the "keys" presented in "The Divine Matrix". So perhaps Mr. Braden's book is simply too much of a primer for me. Even so, as a reader, I want more than breathless assertions. I want something to chew on, to think and meditate on. Something that addresses not just my logical mind but my inner wisdom mind as well.

That said, the 20 keys in this book will be a useful read for many! It does not matter that these keys can be gleaned in many other sources or from introspection, nor that the keys could probably be edited into a more concise set. As I read this material, I can't help but think of so many of my own primary sources that opened my eyes to the "real world" - Jane Robert's Seth books, John Lily's 1960's classic "Programming and Metaprogramming in the Human Biocomputer", books by Fred Allen Wolf and other physicists-turned-mystics, Buddhist texts, to name a few.

In conclusion, this book is a nice light (as another reviewer said "fluffy") intro to important information and ideas for many readers. For the more advanced and experimental reader, I'd like to suggest another book which I have been absorbing in parallel to "The Divine Matrix" --> "The Four Insights: Wisdom, Power and Grace of the Earthkeepers" by Alberto Villoldo, PhD. This is his newest offering in a series of books covering shamic and mystical ideas and practices of South American (Inka and Amazonian) Earthkeepers. Its about the power to re-vision your world, to clear your Light Body of karmic implants and to help heal all beings around you. It is well worth your time!

Best "Consciousness Research" book I've Read to Date, August 4, 2007
I've read many, many books of a spiritual nature over the last several years and, over & over again I would read that we are all connected somehow and that we impact, or co-create, our reality. But, until reading Braden's "The Divine Matrix", I didn't really understand these ideas.

This book is so powerful because Braden doesn't just tell readers how to "intend" a different future, or make the statement that we are all connected, but instead he explains how & why these statements are true based on new scientific evidence. Plus, although the scientific concepts he discusses are quite complex, he has the ability to make them easy to understand for people who, like me, have no physics background.

The overall concept is that there is a web of energy where all things begin and all possibilities exist. It's this "web" that connects us to everyone and everything, and through which we bring possibilities into existence (co-creating our reality through imagination, prayer, judgement, expectation, etc...). What a brilliant design!

An awesome "bonus" is the "20 Keys to Consciousness" he includes at the end, where he outlines how to use the information he provides to create the life you want to live. You may want to type these up, print them out, and hang them somewhere that you'll see them everyday...

In addition to the scientific concepts and research discussed in "The Divine Matrix", Braden also shares some personal stories reflecting his journey of discovering, understanding, and using this information - providing a really nice balance between the science & the personal.

Overall, I would HIGHLY reccomend "The Divine Matrix" to anyone interested in how science is beginning to prove the truth of ancient spiritual concepts, as well as those who'd like to co-create a better future. It's insightful, profound, and an "easy read" (when compared to other books of this genre).

The Fluff Master, February 6, 2007
I'm still trying to figure Gregg out. He seems very popular. But when you dive into his theories it is very much like quantum physics in that when you examine it in detail you see a cloud. In this book he is trying to bridge spirituality and quantum physics. Problem is the author does not demonstrate a solid enough background in quantum physics or mysticism to smoothly do the job. And equally puzzling is that the content as it relates to spirituality does not seem deep either.

Example: "The key is that the energy connecting everything in the universe is also a part of what it connects!"

Well, if you have studied the Vedanta or any kind of experiential path (Gnosis) then you would realize that energy and things are all the same. It's all energy. Why would you stop here and consider that some things are energy and some things are still matter or something else. Thus the author uses words to imply that he is stuck in a dualistic view. The claim is that there is a matrix somehow 'out there' but in reality everything is one.

Example: "They demonstrate that human emotion (beliefs, expectations, and feelings) are the language that the Divine Matrix recognizes"

Emotions are only one language. You have many bodies, physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, etc. Each body has a language. You have sensations of the body, thoughts and images of the mind, feelings of the emotions, inspiration, etc. ALL of these modes are in you as a microcosm of the sensations, thoughts, images, inspirations, and feelings of the universe. Whenever you try to dissect and then separate (instead of integrate) the human and our modes of knowing you end up with incomplete and potentially dangerous worldviews, religions, science, etc. Gregg does not realize yet then we he is talking about emotions he really means vibration. Emotions are just one language and is dualistic. Vibration is the whole realm of interaction. If you have any experience with Mantra then you also realize that vibration through sound creates and aligns many things much more firmly and powerfully then just holding a feeling. If we only needed feelings we would not need to vocalize nor have any of the other capabilities that we have.

Example: "Experiments in quantum physics do show, in fact, that the act of us looking at something as tiny as an electron-just focusing our awareness upon what that electron is doing for even an instant in time-changes its properties while we are looking. The experiments suggest that the very act of observation is an act of creation and that consciousness is doing the creating."

Actually, there is no electron. In Quantum physics there are only forces and probabilities. The next level of these forces are described as being waves. Technically it is thought that the act of observation produces an effect called 'collapsing the wave'. There are many mathematical proofs behind this. But this concept of electrons came about very early in Western Physics and there is, at the essence, really no such thing. So this is another example of where the author attempts to communicate technical information in an incomplete way.

Example: "The ancient mystics reminded our hearts, and modern experiments have proven to our minds, that the single most powerful force in the universe is the emotion that lives within each of us"

Um, actually, no one can prove what the most powerful force is. In fact, the true conti-unity of all existance is beyond force. This is the reality found beyond reality realized by states of consciousness like Samadhi. No one can prove what the ultimate is because it is beyond words, beyond the mind.

Example: To cite the Chief Seattle speech shows lack of skill. There is great controversy as to whether this even occurred. A small bit of Internet research shows this to be the case.

It appears that the author fits within a category of neo-spiritual people who are doing a service to those who need to get started on the spiritual path. They are also potentially doing a disservice to those people who will be delayed in their growth by thinking there is more to their teachings than there is. Those teachings, in many cases, can be seen as a kind of spiritual toy or candy.

Specifically this book shows evidence of a very thin (and awkward) assemblage through a process of mental association. This process lacks the depth and poetry of real insight from spritual practies such as deep meditation, yoga, fasting, shamanism, etc.

In general the self help movement has attempted to hijack quantum physics and spirituality. That segment is going to rapidly be seen as a temporary station on the spiritual path. Self help/new thought/new age/motivational speakers who just 10 years had specials on PBS are now *very* much eclipsed.

People are seeing that direct experience is the way to go and what you really need on the spiritual path does not come from books, not from what someone else says, but from what you discover from inside yourself. You are the God/dess and you do not need anyone to tell you what truth is.

For so long the self-help movement has been a kind of virtual church for those who were seeking new information and in some cases spiritual growth. But the movement still has the flavor of needing the guru or expert (used to be called preacher) to tell you what you needed to do. It is the same old priesthood in another set of garments. It is not direct experience. It is following what you are told by either a set of writings or someone else. And increasingly, with exponential speed, this will not serve any longer the psychic, spiritual, and karmic needs and destiny of humanity.

So if you are new to the spiritual path and know nothing about quantum physics this is an ok introduction. (The Universe Is A Green Dragon by Brian Swimme is the best mystical/science intro.) But if you have been on the path for awhile then it is hard to get a handle on anything that is helpful. Lots of words are used but when you check yourself later you realize you do not get much. Fluffy, not solidified, not congruent. Much of this content seems to be at the level of high-level magazine articles. You do not get solid information in a meaningful way nor corresponding practices to realize any kind of yoga or embodiement of reality or metaphysics.

Wayne Dyers Guru, Sri Siva Baba, is light years beyond Braden. He has some excellant videos you can see for free on youtube

Gregg Braden's THE DIVINE MATRIX is a CONSCIOUSNESS MASTERPIECE!, January 11, 2007
WOW! Talk about a literary, spiritual and consciousness MASTERPIECE, that is what this book is - and I do NOT say this lightly! I LOVE everything this book represents, how it was written (in language anyone can understand) and with REAL DEPTH and WISDOM, THIS BOOK has made me a "fan" of Gregg Braden!

Here I wanted to share some quotes directly from this PHENOMENAL book for you:

"The key is that the energy connecting everything in the universe is also a part of what it connects!"

"There are more attributes that set the Divine Matrix apart from any other energy of its kind. First, it can be described as being everywhere all the time...it already exists. Unlike a broadcast from a TV or radio station that has to be created into one place before being sent and received somewhere else, this field seems to be everywhere already."

"The bottom line of what this experiment demonstrates is that the behavior of the particles when the experiment begins appears to be determined entirely by things that don't even happen until the experiment is finished. In other words, the present has the power to change what's already occurred in the past. And this is the so-called quantum-eraser effect: Things that happen after the fact can change ("erase") the way the particles behave at an earlier point in time."

"The common denominator of the investigations...is twofold:
1. They show us that we're a part of the Divine Matrix
2. They demonstrate that human emotion (beliefs, expectations, and feelings) are the language that the Divine Matrix recognizes."

"...For all intents and purposes, the operating system of a computer is fixed and doesn't change. In other words, it "is" what it is. When we want to see our computer do something different, we don't change the operating system - WE CHANGE THE COMMANDS THAT GO INTO IT. (My caps, italics in the book.) The reason why this is important is that consciousness appears to work precisely the same way."

The section called "20 KEYS OF CONSCIOUS CREATION" is way too good for me to "quote" here - because the LAST thing I want to do is give you the ending of this amazing book - it's something you will want to read, absorb and experience for yourself in the expansion of your consciousness - it's fantastic!

I can ONLY give my HIGHEST recommendation for this book, for how much it CAN transform your consciousness, which is HOW to transform your life. Gregg Braden deserves an award for this book. It's entirely inspiring, filled with amazing insight, is an outstanding read, and one that I feel honored to even review!

I believe THE DIVINE MATRIX: Bridging Time, Space, Miracles, and Belief - is one book that you will be giving yourself a MAJOR GIFT in reading. That's exactly what this book is - a MAJOR GIFT to Humanity - and I sincerely mean this with all of my heart.

Deserves 1,000 Stars!

Barbara Rose, Ph.D. author of If God Was Like Man and If God Hears Me I Want an Answer!

Excellent book on a most important subject, December 28, 2006
Gregg Braden has done a masterful job in taking the issues of the relationship between spirituality and quantum theory and making them easily understood. More importantly, he shows in this book how work being done in these fields is changing the way we think about ourselves and the world we live in. Particularly helpful are the several charts and graphs in the book and the "20 Keys of Conscious Creation." If you are a fan of Gregg's other books, if you have seen the film What the Bleep Do We Know, or The Secret, or are in any way curious about new ways of thinking about reality, then get this book and read it!

Life-changing material, April 2, 2007
Great book! Very explanatory. The Divine Matrix is a field of energy. It is our world and everything in our world. We are part of it too.

The book talks about the process of getting what you truly want and "how to do it". Recaps the 20 important things to remember at the end, after explaining each of the 20 in depth, in its chapter spot. Some of the things explained are that you must put out there the thought of what you want (your consciousness creates), include emotion in the thought, and it is imperative that you see yourself as already being there/having the item/situation. That last one is a deal-breaker. (I've personally found it very helpful, when you are visualizing what you want, to include all of your 5 senses in the visualization process, too--or as many of the 5 senses as possible. See it. Feel it. Smell it, etc. That also enhances the "emotion" factor they speak of in the book.) The book goes into in-depth explanations on quantum theory and scientific-based explanations throughout the book that will amaze you. Good material. If you REALLY want to change your life, and are willing to do some radical belief-changing (at least for most people), and some attitude-changing, this book provides great information and the process.

Assuming you are not already there, you must begin changing from the inside out. You must begin to let go of negative emotions (fear, anger, jealousy), so that you can tune in to the correct vibrations. Hint: This really is a prerequisite. Start anywhere you can in self improvement, but you gotta get rid of negative vibes.) (If you hang on to the negative vibes, they will interfere with your ability to manifest what you truly want. You will, instead, manifest what you do NOT want. An great example is fear. You are afraid the car will break down. You keep thinking "I hope the car does not break down. Guess what. It does because you kept thinking about it. Even though you said "not". The universe does not understand the "not" part. And, while you were thinking "not," that fear put a lot of emotion in the thinking process. When I think back about some of the things that happened in past years after my fears put all that energy into them--coincidence? Nah! Way too many times. The more emotion, the quicker they come to pass. Be careful where you put your thoughts. Remember the old saying "Be careful what you wish for") Anyway, read the book. You won't go wrong. This is life-changing material.

There is a lot of similar stuff out there right now, covering this very hot topic, and for good reason. There are more opportunities today than ever before to raise your awareness. People are beginning to put their beliefs and experiences into print and are also able to provide some scientific evidence of things previously thought to be lies/B.S./a joke/impossible, etc.

Different books out there talk about "mirroring," how people will "mirror" your behaviors/fears/uncertainties, etc. back to you, as a lesson for you to see. Toward the end of the book, it includes a more in-depth explanation about mirroring, explaining 5 types of mirroring. "Reflections of the Moment" is the normal mirroring, reflecting back what you think. But the second type of mirroring is "Reflections of what we judge in the moment". This was the first time I read of mirroring the way we judge and it was a big "aha" moment for me. I believed I was pretty free of judging others, but there were 2 people who I still had issues with. I could not figure out why. I was not EVER like they acted. Then I realized, I was unconsciously still "judging" their behaviors. That lesson, alone, was worth the price of this book for me! Now I can resolve these issues and be "free" of these feelings once and for all.

I also highly recommend motivational materials by Dr. Wayne Dyer. I also recommend getting away from the television (too much negativity) and finding yourself some really peaceful music, whatever artist(s) resonates best with you. If you're into Angels, check out Doreen Virtue. If you are looking for communicating with Spirit Guides or Animals, or Aura Reading, or interpreting messages from nature and/or animals, try Ted Andrews. Ted also has a Kaballah book which I have only skimmed through so far, but he puts out excellent books which are very informative.

Peace and love to you in your quest for knowledge.

The title of the Book says it all!, January 3, 2007
The author does a phenomenal job of articulating ancient spiritual truths in common parlance using science as the funnel through which his ideas emerge. A shift in consciousness and perception (which is our birthright) is the foundation upon which our "reality" and this book, is based. Clear, concise yet not devoid of personality, this book causes one to rethink what Jesus of Nazareth meant when he said "I am with you always." I will read this material over and over again - from different states of mind - and enjoy it more than the time before. I would say that this work is not only important reading, but necessary for anyone who would like to replace dogma and constraint with something much more liberating and joyful.

A Book to be Savored and Pondered, March 3, 2007
As a voracious reader, I usually race through books, rarely stopping until I've finished. This book was different.

I moved slowly through the book over a period of days rather than hours, pausing to comtemplate quantum weirdness, and, especially, mirrors that send us messages about ourselves. While, like the author, I had been told that people in our lives reflect who we are, I found the notion didn't work for me when, from time to time, people in my life behaved in ways anathema to me. Never before had I considered that they reflected my own tightly-held judgements. That one idea has been freeing!

Savoring the keys to conscious creation, I reflected on people and experiences that have flowed in -- and out -- of my life. How those people and experiences have changed and strengthened me, how I choose to use that strength in the future, how my actions influence the whole -- all came to awareness while reading this remarkable book.

Take your time to consider the remarkable discoveries detailed in this book. You'll find it worthwhile.

Five stars. Well done!

Thank Heaven for this book, April 9, 2007
Its about time someone did what Greg Braden has done in this easy to read and inspiring book. He takes the esoteric field of quantum physics and translates it for the lay reader into easy to understand stories, and examples, as well as practical applications. You'll learn that your world isn't so solid after all, that you can create powerful change in your own life, and that we have the power to change your world from the inside out.

If you liked this one, you will also like reading Matrix Energetics: The Science and Art of Transformation in which the theories discussed in "The Divine Matrix" are demonstrated in very practical appliation by Dr. Richard Bartlett who teaches you to use them to create 'miracles' in your life.

Blessings to both for bringing this life-changing, powerful information into the world in a way that is easy to understand and repeatable.

Ann Albers,
lecturer, angel communicator and author of Love is the River: Learning to Live in the Flow of Divine Grace ... Read more

Editorial Review

Add a little magic to each day in 2011. The quick and easy spells in this almanac make it perfect for beginning spellcasters and busy Witches. Cast a shadow spell, make a protection charm, scry with a magic mirror—the bewitchments, recipes, rituals, and meditations in Llewellyn’s Witches’ Spell-A-Day Almanac help you use the unique energies of each day and season to gain skill in your Craft and enhance your life.

For your convenience, the 365 spells are cross-referenced by purpose: love, health, money, protection, home and garden, travel, and communication. This handy spellbook features space for notes and a wealth of spell-crafting essentials so you can create your own spells.

Planetary influences for each day  •  The Moon’s sign and phases 

A glossary of magical terms  •  Pagan holidays and lore

Color and incense correspondences for each day

Timing tips to add planetary power to your spells 

The magical workings in this spellbook were composed by many of your favorite Witches and writers: Chandra Alexandre, Elizabeth Barrette, Castiel, Dallas Jennifer Cobb, Raven Digitalis, Ellen Dugan, Abel R. Gomez, Ember Grant, James Kambos, Sharynne MacLeod NicMhacha, Paniteowl, Susan Pesznecker, Diana Rajchel, Laurel Reufner, and Tess Whitehurst.

~ 10th Year of Publication! ~

Reviews

spell book, September 25, 2010
Looking forward to what this book has for next year. Nice when you are busy, to do a little spell to keep the rust off.

Witches' Spell-A-Day 2011, July 22, 2010
I pre-order this book every year. The knowledge contained in here is amazing - Love it! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Do you work magic with herbs? Do you use them in spells, for talismans or simply use their innate powers? If you don't have Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, you need to get it right away. This book has become a classic in its field. Paul Beyerl, a respected author on herbs calls it "…an essential reference book by students of herbalism and magick alike … Scott's personable charm touches every page… I highly recommend this book." And Jeanne Rose, famous author of books on herbs and developer of an herbal course says "I love books like this … It is accessible, easy to read, and with its encompassing index (all too often neglected), simple to use as well." Over 200,000 people already have this book and use it frequently.
In this edition of the book (it's expanded and revised on the 15th anniversary of original publication) you will find the magical properties and folklore of over 400 herbs! You'll also find lists of herbs based on their magical powers, their genders, their planetary rulers, and more. Perhaps the most important list is the folk name cross-reference. With that information, when a recipe calls for "bramble, " you'll know it needs blackberry. Or if the magic calls for "enebro," you'll know you that is juniper.
The main part of this book is the listings of the herbs. Each one includes names, associations, and magical attributions. Violets can be used for protection, luck, love, and more. Primrose is for protection and love. Garlic is for protection, healing, exorcism, lust, and prevention of theft.
This book is considered a classic. It is probably consulted more than any other book on this subject. If you want to learn the secrets of magical herbs, this book is a must!


... Read more

Reviews

A Reference for us modern witches, February 13, 2002
Scott Cunningham, in his time, turned out quite a few books and references for the modern, 'practical' witch. Though many of the herbs listed seem arcane- when I bought this book it was the first time I had heard of herbs like eryngo and life-everlasting- this reference is well done.
The herbs are organized alphabetically, and black and white drawings of the plant or flower are to the side of each entry, which typically includes the scientific (Latin) name, health codes (such as G for safe, and a guide is included in the book for all of the codes), any folk names, its attributed gender, planet, element, and deities, followed by brief (or sometimes long) descriptions of ritual and magical uses.
After the listings of herbs, there are lists of categories, under which are listed what herbs fit that area- such as masculine plants, herbs that correspond to certain ritual intentions, and elementary rulers. Also included are an index, a glossary, and a mail order list for those who do not have an herb store nearby (and it's hard to find something like mandrake in your local grocery store!).
Granted, this book is not the be-all and end-all of herbal studies. I recommend finding yourself at least three good sources and using them together when using herbs.

Comprehensive & Essential, January 22, 2000
It does seem that one don't normally need to review the priceless works of the late sage, Scott Cunningham. His knowledge and gift to the Wiccan community is legendary. This book, like one of our learned reviewer mentioned, "is a BILBLE reference". It contains almost all imaginable herbs and their corresponding influences to assist in a successful magickal working. I have read many herbal books that claim to be complete and must have..blah blah...but nothing really comes close to this one. It's not that one has to pay alot of money in order to obtain knowledge but these days on the book front, you start to wonder if the writers and publishers of some expensive books on herbal lore should read up more before flooding the market with dubious contributions. You can tell when you have picked up a great book. With Scott Cunningham, he's never short on sharing everything useful he knows and my my, this man really really knows alot. Go get it!

Tons of useful information, September 5, 2001
This book contains at least two or three hundred magical herb listings shown with illustrations of the herb, deity correspondences, elemental correspondences, folk names of herbs, ritual use, and other historical information designed to give clues as to how these herbs are best used towards magical purposes (Devil's Shoestring, for example, is best carried in the pocket to bring luck in employment matters, so from reading this book you would know not to make an incense with the herb but to carry it). The detailed appendices full of correspondence tables are great time-savers. However, this is not a recipe book, in fact it doesn't contain a single recipe. Also, Cunningham doesn't really comment on which herbs are known to be MOST powerful in workings towards certain ends, so some additional self-research is required. This book pre-assumes a basic knowledge of herbs and doesn't offer anything in the way of general instruction, so this should be considered a reference book and not an instrument of instruction. In any case, I have found it a valuable reference, and recommend it.

If you want a REALLY thorough herb reference and this doesn't sound like enough, I would try Paul Beyerl's Master Book of Herbalism

This book is incredible! Cunningham is the best! BUY IT!, June 23, 2000
This book is perfect for those who like lists, pictures, instructions, and organized information. Cunningham presents the facts for each herb in a concise and organized fashion, and most of the herbs are sketched out in the right hand margin. Cunningham guides us through magic herbalism with sincerity and profound knowledge of the subject while never ceasing to amaze and impress the reader. The end of the book contains an index which lists the page numbers for each herb as well as ailments. For example, if you have a headache, look up "headache" and refer to those page numbers. This prevents the reader from looking through ALL the herbs' uses to find how to cure a headache. Cunningham is truly amazing. The fact that he is no longer here is certainly upsetting. BUY THIS BOOK if you love pictures, charts, lists, and genuine advice for the utilization of magical herbs.

Researchers! Here there be gold!, February 27, 2000
I'm writing this review after ordering my 5th copy of the book. Why the 5th copy? Do I give them away? No, I use an edition until it -- literally -- falls apart in my hands! This is by far THE BEST reference for herbs to be found since it addresses brief magical, practical and medicinal uses, provides drawings and also folk names in a logical, readable order. Writers who want to get it right in their work, if you can only afford one book, buy this one (twice!). I heartily recommend it for people of the craft, writers and gardeners.

It's...okay, July 19, 2005
I purchased this book years ago, probably around 1991, when I was starting off on the "pagan path." I ended up giving my copy to a friend because I didn't care for it. Recently I purchased another copy, because I thought perhaps my tastes would have changed, and I had also recently purchased Cunningham's incense book and liked it. Now I remember why I gave this one away.

I do like the fact that the book has an encyclopedic aspect with drawings of the herbs, elements, gender, planetary aspects. I like Cunningham's intro chapters to the material as well. But the main problem I have with this book is a problem I have with several of Cunningham's books of this type ("Magical Household" comes to mind) is that it's big on folklore and superstitious uses of plants and herbs. Another reviewer mentioned that noting the actual magical effectiveness of herbs would have been nice. I totally agree. At least distinguishing which is folklore/old wives tales and which are classically magical would have been nice. I read an article once which I believe was written by Cunningham's former roommate Donald Michael Kraig, who stressed how much research Cunningham did in writing this book, including brewing up herbal mixtures, testing, etc. If that were the case, I really don't see the practical result here, which is too bad. When looking through it, what I see most is folklore, which may or may not help you. To me, it seems a little lightweight and not as practical as it could be.

Also, he doesn't touch upon any sort of herbal medicine/healing information. I realize this is covered in any number of books on herbalism, but, to me, that is part of the "Magick" of herbs. A little bit of info along these lines would have been more useful to me than wearing an herb to ward off gunshots or scorpions, or putting something under your pillow to make your dreams come true.

Cunningham has millions of fans who will probably disagree with me and that's just fine. I don't feel I'm bashing this book, because it does has some useful information. But if you are on the fence about purchasing this, I highly recommend reading through a copy in your local bookstore before purchasing outright. The intro chapter is all that's shown in the "Look inside the book" feature here on Amazon, and I don't think that always gives an accurate feel.

never stays on my shelf, April 25, 2000
this the book that i always use for making incense and doing spells. when ever i find some herbs,flowers,trees,or plants outside i look them up in this book. this book has alot of plants in them even the most basic one like grass which i had no idea it could be used in magick. he loves me,he loves me not is an actual form of divination used by taking the petals off a daisy. want prophetic dreams put bayleaf under your pillow. cactus are very protective plant. to bring money to you leave a jar of sesame seeds open in the house. this is an excellent book and should be on every witch's shelf

If there is one book to have on herbalism..., December 26, 2001
If there is one book to have on herbalism, this is the book to have. Not only is the book one that is destined to stay off your shelf and on your altar, but it is the absolute best herbal reference out there. Scott Cunningham does a beautiful job with popular and folk lore on hundreds of herbs, going past "traditional" one or two word associations and really getting into herbal lore within his descriptions. The herbal cross reference toward the end is extremely useful for anyone who is using spells and recipies from outer sources... you never realise how many folk names exist for a single herb! The book is well organized, in depth, and easy to follow. A MUST HAVE for any aspiring herbalist.

Oi!, March 5, 2000
This book has a wealth of knowledge of herbs, including folk names, magickal uses, and other information. Hundreds of herbs are listed in complete detail, many descriptions seen along side a picture. The book has more about herbs and their magickal uses than has any other book I have seen so far. For an excellent guide, buy Cunninghams's Guide. Blessed Be, Serval-Lilyth Eumagi

Real issues, April 15, 2005
There are some real problems with this book. I gave it two stars because, for what it's worth, kids who want to rub some leaves together and think they made a difference can find something of use here.

Beyond all the myriad problems with any Llewellyn magickal "sourcebook" (and most of them have little to do with either word), there is the fact that Cunningham applies so many qualities to most of the herbs listed that they can all do pretty much anything. When there is an herb with which there is not much lore associated, he simply makes something up, usually based on colour. For instance, purple loosestrife is a lovely plant in a brilliant light purple, so Cunningham associates it with peace and harmony. The problem is that loosestrife spreads like wildfire wherever it germinates, choking out all the local flora, thus killing off indigenous wildlife. Sound peaceful and harmonious? A little research into the true nature of the BEHAVIOUR of the plant could have remedied this. In Michigan (I don't know about elsewhere), it has long been a folk custom to use loosestrife to bind and banish. Maybe that's a little risky for a Llewellyn book, I don't know.

Another serious issue in the book is Cunningham's habit of, when unable to find the proper herbs, just "charging" whatever herbs he has around the house to do his bidding. Whilst plant slavery may be a practice that worked for him, it sounds a little dodgey to me. I come from a magickal background in which we "charge" nothing. Gems, for instance... what the heck am *I* going to do to a stone that millions of years of roasting in the womb of GOD herself hasn't already done? Sorry but a little salt water ain't gonna do a whole lot to change the nature of a creation with that kinda time under it's belt.

In our training we learn to ask the blessing of a plant or other creature of God herself and ask its aid, acknowledging its power and grace. While that might not work for some, and I'm sure putting ingredients together and charging them may be extremely effective for others, perhaps a little humility might add a new dimension(?). At the very least, only "charging" plants whose natural energies contribute to the work would probably be a good rule of thumb.

Grump grump grump ... Now I'm all grumpy. ... Read more

Editorial Review

One of the secrets of real magic is that it is controlled by the mind. The more things in your ritual to help your mind associate with your goal, the more powerful your ritual may be. Colored candles, scented oils, natural incenses, and more all add to the impact of the magic you wish to do.
But how do you know which incense to burn? Is it possible to add scented oils together to get a more powerful oil? And how do you make your own, appropriately-scented tools?
The answers to questions like these and hundreds more can be found in The Complete Book of Incense, Oils & Brews by world-famous author Scott Cunningham. This is a greatly expanded and rewritten version of The Magic of Incenses, Oils and Brews. It includes over 100 new formulas, proportions for each element of the recipes (the most requested feature from his previous book), how to substitute ingredients, and much more. Besides the formulas, it also includes the exact methods of making all of these scented tools, including how to extract the essences from the herbs.
Each one of the formulas is precise and easy to make. Do you need luck? Take 2 parts vetivert, 2 parts allspice, 1 part nutmeg, and 1 part calamus, grind them together as finely as possible, then sprinkle the powder in a circle around you, beginning and ending in the East and moving clockwise. Sit within this circle and absorb the powder's energies. Also included are other ways to use magical powders that will have you coming up with your own ideas for them, too.
There is a legion of recipes for incenses. There are three for the sun and two for consecrating talismans. There are incenses for each of the astrological signs and ones to help you study better and gain success. You'll also find incenses for each of the planetary influences. There are four for Saturn alone!
This compendium of magical lore is a vital tool for every magical person on any magical path, whether you are a beginner or an expert.


... Read more

Reviews

A must-have reference book!, May 4, 2000
This is one of my favorite books by Scott Cunningham. He explores so many different methods of magickal creation that there is something for everyone and more. If you want to learn more about making your own incense, brews, potions, powders, inks, soaps, tinctures, oils, herbal baths,etc., YOU MUST BUY THIS BOOK. Each section is informative and full of recipies, explanations, suggestions, and warnings. The chapter on substitution is excellent and the charts and appendixes are helpful as well. The book's tone is more instructional rather than spiritual, especially compared to Cunningham's other books. If you are looking for in-depth information about magical herbs and oils, I highly recommend reading Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs and The Magic of Aromatherapy in addition to The Complete Book of Incense, Oils, and Brews.

Great Charts, Adequate Recipes, October 16, 2004
This book is designed for those with little experience with paganism, or at least with pagan herbalism. It does a great job at explaining the basics of pagan herbalism. It explains the uses of incense, oils, and brews in pagan life and ritual and the ways they are constructed and charged. Most importantly it desbribes the attributes of each common herb and provides complete and informative charts organized by element, by planetary influence, and by area (protection, love, healing, etc.).

It covers incenses, oils, soaps, tincintures, sachets, and brews. The major drawback of this broad coverage is that no one area is covered as fully as possible. The recipes in particular are barely adequate. Each chapter gives dozens of recipes, but most have only a sentence or two of explaination. And they merely rehash the information given by the the charts.

The information is useful, but not significantly different than that found in many other pagan herbalism books. If you do not own such books I recommend this book. It is as direct and useful a beginner text as exists. If you do, don't expect to learn much more from this. Happy Brewing!

Fantastic resource!!, December 9, 2002
If you are looking for a book on Incenses, oils, inks, soaps and more this is an absolute MUST HAVE!!! I couldn't say enough positive things about this book, an excelent addition to any witchcraft library, and FULL of benificial advise. Clear directions on how to make an entire book full of incense, oils ointments,inks, tinctures, herb baths, bath salts, brews, ritual soaps (solid & liquid), Sachets or herbal charms, powders, and there are chapters on substitutions and the considerations for making those substitutions. A chapter on empowering rites, on propotions, on creating your own recipes....
Just an all around wonderful reference book, and not a bad read either. All in all a real 10!! You finish reading a chapter and wish there was more, this book is an essential part of my library, and if you are a serious practitioner, I recomend it as an essential buy for yours...enjoy!! Blessed Be.

Packed with information., September 22, 2000
Mr. Cunningham teaches you how to make your own incense, annointing oils, tinctures, bath salts, ritual soaps, and much more.

Mr. Cunningham places asterisks beside dangerous plants Beladonna, Foxglove, Henbane, mistletoe and others. and in almost every case gives alternate recipes so you can get similar results without using toxic materials.

Questions or comments? E-Mail me. Two Bears.

Wah doh Ogedoda

THE best reference of its kind, period., September 22, 2005
I've read (and owned) more Craft books of this type than I can count, this is by far the best in it's genre. I doubt I can (or should) add anything in addition to what's already been said by the many other reviewers. All I need to say is that this is the ONE book I turn to time and time again without fail. My copy is dog-eared, stained, wrinkled, spotted, written in, tabbed and highlighted; well worn from many years of loving use. It's truly a master work by one of the best in the business, if not THE best. If you don't have this, you're doing yourself a dissatisfaction. Get it, read it, learn it, love it and keep it close to your heart and your Craft, you won't be sorry.

Would of given it 5 stars, but..., December 27, 2000
The reason why I feel that this book doesn't deserve five stars is because some of the recipes are too weird. Some of the recipes are supposedly ancient, and I quote...

(Scott Cunningham)>>>

SPIRIT INCENSE # 2 (caution!)

root of the weedy herb Sagapen(?), juice of the Hemlock*, juice of the Henbane*, Tapsus barbatus(?), Red sandalwood, Black Poppy seed,

Fume to make spirits and strange shapes appear. To make them flee, add parsley to this mixture, as this chases away all spirits and destroys all visions (which seems to contradict Spirit Incense #1 above!) This 50O-year-old formula is virtually impossible to compound. I included this recipe as an example of an authentic, ancient herbal incense. Most of these are as difficult to make as this one. What is the "weedy herb Sagapen"? I haven't the slightest idea!

He puts stupid recipes such as this one in his book to make Wicca look 'mysterious' and 'ancient.' The practices in Wicca are natural and don't call for 'ancient' herbs such as the weedy herb Sagapen (which I am pretty sure never existed). Most of the tools in Wicca can be found in your backyard. Don't get me wrong here. This book is full of *terrific* recipes. But don't be fooled by some of the 'ancient' herbal recipes that he included in this book.

In Part 1, this book tells you the Basics...

* On Magick * On Proportions * Empowering Rites * Ingredients * Creating Your Own Recipes

In Part 2, it gets into the actual Recipes for...

* Incense * Oils * Ointments * Inks * Tinctures * Herb Baths * Bath Salts * Brews * Ritual Soaps * Sachets or Herbal Charms * Powders * A Miscellany of Recipes

In Part 3, they have Substitutions...

* Specific Substitutions * Magickal Goals * Planetary Substitutions * Elemental Substitutions * Astrological Substitutions

Buy this book! It's pretty good =)

--Blessed Be

Invaluable Reference Work, July 2, 1998
This book belongs in every occultist's library. Cunningham has left no stone unturned in his presentation of correspondences and substitutions. The book consists of several sections, each devoted to a specific topic, i.e., incenses, soaps, oils, brews, etc. Each section is alphabetically subdivided by purpose, astrological and plantetary influences, etc. Included for the adventurous are some recipies from older grimoires, along with safer modern blends aimed at the same goals. The incense chapter alone is worth the price of the book. After reading it, you'll never be dependent upon headshop joss sticks and cones again. Also included is a listing of sources for materials. In short, this book is an invaluable reference work, and belongs on every practicing magicians's bookshelf.

Great Book and Very Informative, March 2, 2006
I found this book very informative for those wishing to make their own brews and potions. I enjoyed reading it and have put some of the formulas into action. I use the oils and soaps when I'm feeling the need to recharge. Also great information on herbs and such. If you're into making your own things and using them or giving them as gifts then this book is for you. You won't go wrong buying this book.

"Complete" is the Best Description, April 8, 2005
This book, a revised edition of the original, is an essential work for those seeking to learn the uses of incense and other mediums of scent used in performing spells, rituals, and other magics. It is further proof that the late Cunningham had a passion for magic, as he provides in great detail the many processes a magician may utilize in order to create their own incense, oils, salves, tinctures, brews, and more from fresh, natural ingredients. In that respect, this book is a tremendous resource for anyone looking for recipes for creating magical blends but also creating them from scratch.

Although I lean more towards the classical or traditional side of spellcraft (where substituting ingredients is not so well-embraced), this book is thorough in providing nearly all substitutions imaginable, for when you cannot find a certain ingredient anywhere or unsure whether or not what you're looking for even exists in the modern age. Also, if you're trying to gather ingredients from a recipe written a few hundred years ago, the name of this or that herb has most likely changed. Cunningham will most likely have covered these in this book.

It is not every day that you can recommend a single book on a subject and consider it the only one needed in a library concerning the subject matter, but I feel confident that I will never need to invest in another book of a similar nature. The Complete Book of Incense, Oils & Brews is exactly what it says it is, a complete resource- a virtual one stop shop of knowledge for the herb-crafter magician.

A Must Have For Every Wiccan Library, May 12, 2004
This is the first book I read about Wicca and of Scott Cunningham. He is thorough with his explainations on each recipe - the substitution list alone is worth the price of the book. If you are new to wicca, exploring wicca or have been practicing for many years, this book is a constant you will return to again and again. The references contain good information to assist you in further exploration. I especially appreciate his openness. He is not at all pretentious as I have read in other books. Scott encourages you to be creative, free thinking and not to be constantly worrying about "getting it right". A very down to earth writer who knows his subject well and communicates it in such a way to get your "magical kitchen" started. May all who read this book find the "magic" in everyday things! ... Read more

Editorial Review

The fundamentals of spellcraft-all in one volume!

The Only Wiccan Spell Book You'll Ever Need, by noted Wiccan authorities Marian Singer and Trish MacGregor, is your perfect primer to understanding the basics of Wiccan philosophy and ideology. Starting with a brief rundown of Witchcraft tools and symbols, this handy reference helps you create spells for virtually every aspect of your life:

Reviews

Excellent reference, February 13, 2010
I had some trepidations about buying this book, primarily because so many "Encyclopedia" works tend to be extremely limited in scope. Not so with this volume. While no book of this nature can be truly comprehensive, this book offers an extremely broad range of subjects, with decent detail and interesting illustrations throughout. More important, however, is the completeness of the author's annotations; by following the annotations at the end of each entry, I have had an excellent starting point with which to continue my research on any subject that I found intriguing enough to follow up on.

I bought this work as an artist, looking for symbolism and information that I could incorporate into my work (which is largely religious in nature). I also study the paranormal, and much of the content of this book has been illuminating to those studies, as well. If you are looking for a quick, down-and-dirty reference to a broad range of demonic subjects, this book is a solid purchase.

excellent resourse, July 4, 2010
I ordered this book for research purposes. This book was every thing I hoped it would be and more. It is full of all kinds of helpfull info. It was worth every penny.

A must for every Magical Library!, February 19, 2010
A must for everyone!

Informative, April 27, 2010
The book has been written by experienced author and is very informative and useful for many people. If you're looking for inspirations or reference to create creatures for your writings. This book is a must. buy it :)

Very Helpful, March 12, 2010
I was trying to find a resource that would help explain some of the things I've encountered. I found a remarkable co-incidence with one of the listed cases and it really helped me understand what happened.

Good Reference Guide for Recognizing Demons, December 12, 2009
This is a great reference guide for Christians to recognize bad spirits and/or actual old and modern beliefs in different societies. This book is user friendly and is not biased regarding beliefs or religions. A great book. ... Read more