Thank you to the wonderful MrsB for posting this on her blog, which in turn reminded me to post it on mine

Putting out a call to help once again! If you haven’t heard, our own wonderful Anne Johnson is teaching in a classroom that is sadly lacking in books for the male students.

1. Anything a male reader ages 12-20 would like: sci fi, horror, sports, war. War books should be about current or recent conflicts, no older than Vietnam.

2. Twilight or any of its sequels.

3. “His Dark Materials” trilogy, esp. The Golden Compass.

4. The Hobbit

Also, there’s not one single “Harry Potter” title in the room. And a shocking lack of nonfiction.

If you think you can help out in some way, head over to The Gods are Bored, and talk to Anne!

Written by Mama Kelly

I’d like to report that my depression and anxiety issues are better.  Actually, they are worse.  If it wasn’t for posts that I had written ahead this blog would be quite lacking in content of late.  I sit down to write and find I have nothing to say.

While I strive to find my way above water again please  enjoy perusing this list of books published in the past month (or so) and know that eventually I’ll find my voice again.

Be Blessed

Joyous Lammas

May your harvests be rich ones

Mama Kelly

The Portable Spell Book: Quick and Simple Magick You Can Do Anywhere, Anytime by Ashleen O’Gaea

Energy Essentials for Witches and Spellcasters by Mya Om

The Wiccan Temptress by Marie Bruce

Enchantment Encumbered: the Study and Practice of Wicca in Restricted Environments by Ashleen O’Gaea and Carol Garr

The Witch’s Kitchen: Incense, Oils, And Candle Recipes by Gregory Branson-Trent

Crafting with Nana, A Young Girl’s Journey into Witchcraft by Mille Knox

Dance of the Moon: Celebrating the Sacred Cycles of the Earth by Dan Furst

and you always know the year is winding down when the new year’s calendars come out:

Llewellyn’s 2010 Witches’ Calendar

Written by Mama KellyTags:books, pagan

You must wake and call me early, call me early, mother dear;
To-morrow ’ill be the happiest time of all the glad New-year;
Of all the glad New-year, mother, the maddest merriest day,
For I’m to be Queen o’ the May, mother, I’m to be Queen o’ the May.

There’s many a black, black eye, they say, but none so bright as mine;
There’s Margaret and Mary, there’s Kate and Caroline;
But none so fair as little Alice in all the land they say,
So I’m to be Queen o’ the May, mother, I’m to be Queen o’ the May.

I sleep so sound all night, mother, that I shall never wake,
If you do not call me loud when the day begins to break;
But I must gather knots of flowers, and buds and garlands gay,
For I’m to be Queen o’ the May, mother, I’m to be Queen o’ the May.

As I came up the valley whom think ye should I see
But Robin leaning on the bridge beneath the hazel-tree?
He thought of that sharp look, mother, I gave him yesterday,
But I’m to be Queen o’ the May, mother, I’m to be Queen o’ the May.

He thought I was a ghost, mother, for I was all in white,
And I ran by him without speaking, like a flash of light.
They call me cruel-hearted, but I care not what they say,
For I’m to be Queen o’ the May, mother, I’m to be Queen o’ the May.

They say he’s dying all for love, but that can never be;
They say his heart is breaking, mother—what is that to me?
There’s many a bolder lad ’ill woo me any summer day,
And I’m to be Queen o’ the May, mother, I’m to be Queen o’ the May.

Little Effie shall go with me to-morrow to the green,
And you’ll be there, too, mother, to see me made the Queen;
For the shepherd lads on every side ’ill come from far away,
And I’m to be Queen o’ the May, mother, I’m to be Queen o’ the May.

The honeysuckle round the porch has woven its wavy bowers,
And by the meadow-trenches blow the faint sweet cuckoo-flowers;
And the wild marsh-marigold shines like fire in swamps and hollows gray,
And I’m to be Queen o’ the May, mother, I’m to be Queen o’ the May.

The night-winds come and go, mother, upon the meadow-grass,
And the happy stars above them seem to brighten as they pass;
There will not be a drop of rain the whole of the livelong day,
And I’m to be Queen o’ the May, mother, I’m to be Queen o’ the May.

All the valley, mother, ’ill be fresh and green and still,
And the cowslip and the crowfoot are over all the hill,
And the rivulet in the flowery dale ’ill merrily glance and play,
For I’m to be Queen o’ the May, mother, I’m to be Queen o’ the May.

So you must wake and call me early, call me early, mother dear,
To-morrow ’ill be the happiest time of all the glad New-year;
To-morrow ’ill be of all the year the maddest merriest day,
For I’m to be Queen o’ the May, mother, I’m to be Queen o’ the May.

- Lord Alfred Tennyson

Written by Mama KellyTags:beltane, poetry

Links when available take you to Amazon.com so that you can see as much detail about the book as possible. I also list my preferred price for the book, but if you are looking to buy a number of books, or simply want to haggle a bit feel free to make me an offer. Just remember that prices do not reflect shipping.

Healing Crystals and Gemstones: From Amethyst to Zircon by Dr. Flora Peschak-Bohmer and Gisela Schreiber 
Hardcover.  A  few dings in back cover and title page is dogearred, otherwise in the same condition it came home from store. $5

Aromatherapy Through the Seasons: Restorative Recipes and Sensory Suggestions by Paula M. Bousquet and Judith Fitzsimmons
Softcover.  Seller’s mark.  Price tag on front cover showing original price and my purchase price.  $3

Prescription for Nutritional Healing by Phyllis A. Balch and James F. Balch
Like new.  Third edition (current publication is 4th).  Price sticker on front cover.  $10

Love Story and Oliver’s Story by Erich Segal
I will only sell these as a pair. They are hardcover editions from the 70s and yes they show their age. However both are in their original (albeit battered) dustjackets. They belonged to my late mother. $5

The Childbirth Kit: Ideas and Images to Help You Through Labor by Marie Fellenstein Hale and Liz Chalmers
This is out of print.  Cardboard “case” is a little battered but still has all the cards and the book. I used these cards during my labor with Princess Nibbles and found them helpful.  $8

The Art of Spiritual Healing: Chakra & Energy Bodywork by Keith Sherwood
I’ve had this book since 1989 or 1990. The book is seperating from the cover but a little glue and it will be good as new. $4

Spirit Healing: How to Make Your Life Work by Mary Dean Atwood
Hardcover edition. Price stickers on front cover. $4

Healing Wise (Wise Woman Herbal Series) by Susan Weed
Dogearred pages and a personal library sticker inside front cover (blank and ready for YOUR name) $4

The Healing Herbs: The Ultimate Guide To The Curative Power Of Nature’s Medicines by Michael Castleman
Hardcover. Like new. $6

Cookie Dough Fun (no link, out of print)
Recipes using both homemade dough and refrigerated dough. Lots of cute ideas like hamburger cookies, sunflower cookies, mug o’ rootbear cookies, graduation cap cookies, Tie Dye Tshirt cookies, Tea Cup cookies, and so much more.
Hardcover. Spiral-bound. Like new. $3

Running on Empty: The Complete Guide to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFIDS) by Katrina Berne, Ph.D>
Some dogearred pages, else in very good condition. $5

Tis the Season: a vegatarian Christmas cookbook by Nanette Blanchard
Hardcover, with dust jacket. Dustjacket is a bit dusty, etc. $5

The Complete Guide to Divination: How to Foretell the Future Using the Most Popular Methods of Prediction by Cassandra Eason
Price sticker on front cover, else like new. $4

The Life You Were Born to Live: A Guide to Finding Your Life Purpose by Dan Millman
Same condition it came home from store in. $6

Neal’s Yard Natural Remedies (no link, out of print)
Remedies given for various illnesses using herbs, homeopathy, and aromatherapy.
Softcover 1988 edition. Some age-related discoloration. Some pencil notes on blank page at end of book. $3

Yamuna’s Table: Healthy Vegetarian Cuisine Inspired by the Flavors of India
Hardover edition. Missing Dust Jacket. $4

You Can Do It!: The Merit Badge Handbook for Grown-Up Girls
Near bookstore condition. $4

Cooking Rocks! Rachael Ray’s 30-Minute Meals for Kids
Near bookstore condition. $3

Magical Spells for Your Home: How to Bring Magic into Every Area of Your Life
Still in dust jacket, though cover is a little battered. $3

Encyclopedia of Gods: Over 2500 Deities of the World
Missing dust jacket. Hardcover 1993 edition. $4

Leaving a Trace: On Keeping a Journal By Alexandra Johnson
Dust cover intact, though a bit wrinkled. Price sticker on front cover. $3

The Complete Vegetarian Cookbook by Chris Hardisty (out of print)
Hardcover. Every recipe has a picture. $5

My preferred shipping means is USPS. If you are buying only 1 book I will ship via media mail or first class, whichever is cheaper, if you are buying a box of books I will ship via parcel post. As a guide you should count on $2.00 for each book.

Thanks for your attention

Mama Kelly

Now that the holidays are behind me (and now that I have the blessing of 2-day weekends again) I have resumed the purging I began over the summer. The goal is to move toward a simpler, less cluttered life and empty out our little upstairs living room so that Miss Artistic can go back to having her own room – something she hasn’t had since we moved in with Mr Grumpy in 2001.

As I clean through my books I find titles that I have either outgrown, replaced, or simply fall into the category of if I haven’t read it/used it by now I’m obviously never going to.  Some of these , but only the ones that have a fairly significant bottom line.

Written by Mama KellyTags:selling books, used books

Back in November I was contacted by Weiser Books and was overjoyed to receive five books to review. At the time I was hoping to have them all reviewed by now. Unfortunately weeks of working 7 days a week, followed by the madness of the holiday season and two family birthdays, caused weeks to fly by in the blink of an eye.

But, I was able to get one review up today and hope to get others up in the coming weeks.

I reviewed Magic When You Need It: 150 Spells You Can’t Live Without over at Epinions. Overall though, let me say that it is a worthy addition to the bookshelf of anyone who likes to collect spells. I found Magic When You Need It to be well-written, clearn, and easy to understand. But, I did have a couple of nitpicking negatives which you can read in more detail in the full review.

Enjoy!

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama Kelly

I picked up The Wiccan Way at my local Barnes and Noble during the summer of 2007 as it has made its way to the reduced shelves and was marked down from $14.99 to $4.98 . I tend to buy reduced Pagan-friendly books quite often, even if just to add to my busting bookshelves. I blame my first teacher (glances over at Lady Rose) who kept a “library” in her home for anyone in her circle to borrow.

I’ve been a Witch for over 20 years, and I will say upfront that I buy beginner books with little hope of reading something new or interesting. Instead I buy them to “keep up” with the Pagan community as well as for the future. With 2 children who will, within only the span of 4-9 years, be adults, I hope that my collection of Witchcraft related texts will serve them well in the years to come.  Or, if circumstances change, perhaps I can loan them one day to my own circle-mates.

According to her biography at one of her publishers, Hay House, Sally Morningstar “is a witch, teacher, and transformational healer with more than 30 years of practical experience”. The Wiccan Way is the first book of hers I have read and I was surprised to find that she has quite a number of other titles both in and out of print.

For a slim volume I have to give it praise for being thorough.

Chapters deal with:

What it means to be Wiccan – about 7 pages of text with an all too brief overview of the faith and focuses a bit too much on the ancient roots of the religion.

Getting started with Wicca – about 8 pages of text touching on the basics of tools, an altar, and creating sacred space.

The Wiccan calendar – about 16 pages relating to the 8 Sabbats (seasonal festivals) that relate to the beginning and peak of each season. It includes ritual basics for the 4 major sabbats – Samhain (Oct 31), Imbolc (Feb 2), Beltane (May 1), and Lammas/Lughnasadh (Aug 1). It also includes a page relating to lunar rituals (esbats).

Wicca as a path to self development – about 7 pages dealing with breathing techniques, magical correspondences, making charms and similar concepts.

The natural world – about 18 pages touching on ecology, the 4 elements (earth, air, fire, water) and the seasons.

Divination and Wiccan skills – about 13 pages dealing with spell casting, runes, candle magic, and banishings.

Inner journeys – about 5 pages of text dealing with concepts such as familiars and astral travel.

Rites and Rituals – includes an overview of rites of passage such as child blessing, handfasting and croning.

____________________________________

Overall The Wiccan Way is an attractive addition to your bookshelf. It gives a brief overview of a wide array of topics of interest to those new to the practice of Wicca. It is non-threatening enough to lend out to non-Pagan family members. However, it is not complete enough to be the only book used for beginner training.

Bear in mind while reading that this volume depicts one woman’s view on Wicca. Facts may not correlate to your own training or tradition.

One example is the section relating to initiation and “degrees”. Here Ms. Morningstar states that a Priestess (and only a Priestess) is able to leave their coven and form their own circle after 2nd degree initiation. Additionally she goes on to state that a 3rd degree Witch will never identify themselves as such publically.

My own training states that branching off of one’s coven to form one’s own circle is not “allowed” until after 3rd degree (note to non practitioners — each degree reflects a year or more of study and practice of the faith). Additionally, it was open at that point to either the Priest or Priestess to branch off from the original coven. And while I agree with the premise that one does not need to brag about one’s training, there should be no secret in attaining the goal.

However, the shining attribute of this book is not its content but that it is replete, not with simple illustrations, but with gorgeous full-color images as well as color photographs. For the photos alone I recommend this book making it to your bookshelf.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Note: This was originally published over at Epinions in July of 2007, however it no longer draws any significant traffic due to thebook being pulled from their listings (the book is out of print). So, I figured I would move it here in case it would be of interest to all of you. It has only been edited slightly since that original writing.

Written by Mama KellyTags:book review

Some women are obsessed with clothes, some with pocketbooks, some with shoes. Some people are obsessed with electronic gadgetry or video games. Me? My obsession is books.

I started reading very young. When I was 4 my mother came into the living room and found me with the newspaper spread out on the floor in front of me talking out loud. She stood there for a few moments, reveling as parents are wont to do at the cuteness of my “pretending to read.” It was not until she heard me slowly and carefully sounding out the word president that she realized that I wasn’t playing or pretending … I was reading.

To be honest I do not remember learning to read. I’ve been reading as long as I can remember and have always loved it. I always read everything I could get my hands on from the backs of cereal boxes (since reading a book at the table was disallowed), to the dictionary, to everything from fiction to nonfiction (and everything inbetween). As a teen I adored wandering the stacks at the library and coming home with a drawstring bag (the one that was supposed to hold my sleeping bag) full of books. Today as an adult I love to wander the clearance rack at my local Barnes & Noble and bring home a new treasure for $3 or $4.

Imagine my joy when I was contacted by a representative of Red Wheel/Weiser offering Lady Rose and I a sampling of their titles to review here on 2Witches. Imagine my pleasure when said books arrived as promised and absolutely free.  I am sorry to say that I have had no time to do more than stroke them lovingly and promise that I will spend time with them soon.

Look soon for reviews on:

Magic When You Need It: 150 Spells You Can’t Live Without – by Judika Illes

Charm Spells: White Magic for Love and Friendship, School and Home – by Ileana Abrev

Shamanic Witch: Spiritual Practice Rooted in the Earth and Other Realms – by Gail Wood

Magic Words: A Dictionary – by Craig Conley

The Wicca Handbook – by Eileen Holland

I am hopeful that I will be able to get to them in the weeks between Yule and the beginning of the Spring semester of college (which I have yet to determine IF I am attending as I have yet to determine IF I can afford to).

Please reply in comments if you have read one of these books and want to share your opinion of it.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

PS  Many thanks again to the kind folks at Red Wheel/Weiser!! Blessings to all of you this holiday season.

PPS Dont forget our 2nd giveaway started yesterday.  Don’t miss out on your chance to enter.

Written by Mama KellyTags:books

I have read most of Laurell K Hamilton’s Anita the Vampire Hunter series.  I came in with some of the later books, went back and read some of the early books and really need to get myself to a library so I can read the others in the middle.

I love the world she created.  I love the deeply layered (and often greatly flawed) characters.  I adore that the cast of her books is so large and diverse.  And yes I enjoy the eroticism that is often part of the story line.

A couple of months ago I found her blog and happily got to have a window into the daily life of one of my favorite authors.  Gradually, as I read, I came to suspect that she might just be a Pagan.  As I read more I was certain.  Today it is official.  Or more accurately, as of October 30th, when the Time Magazine article was published.

Maybe other fans already knew.  Maybe this is already “old news”.  But, I have to admit that I for one was thrilled.  I already knew she was Wiccan from reading her blog.  But to have her come out publically, outside the venue of just her fans, meant something to me.

To me, as a somewhat closeted Wiccan, I am proud today to know that (finally!) I live in a country where a NY TImes #1 bestseller author can come out of the broomcloset and it’s not a big deal.  It is simply a statement of faith no different than if she had called herself Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, etc.

In her own words:

“But currently I’m Wiccan. One of its biggest tenets is, Do as thou wilt, but harm none. And that applies to yourself as well. So every choice you make, all day long, every day, goes through that filter. But there’s no intrinsic guilt in this religion. Since everything is sacred, you don’t have to feel ashamed about your body or what you’re doing with it, as long as you’re harming no one. You don’t have to feel guilty, or apologize, for being human.”

excerpted from the interview/article

Vampire Novelist Laurell K. Hamilton

By Gilbert Cruz

So mainly I want to say thank you Ms. Hamilton.  Thank you for writing books that allow me a delicious escape from mundane life.  Thank you for saying in Time Magazine what I myself cannot say to my family.  Perhaps one of them will read this article and will think back to things I’ve said over the years and rethink their judgement about my “weird witch shit.”

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:famous Pagans, religion

In one of my recent posts I was talking about some of the de-cluttering work I am doing around the house.  One of that post’s commenters, Stephanie Bennett Vogt, shared that she has published a book dealing with that very same topic.  I am happy to feature it here as it not only deals with the physical aspects of clutter, but also the emotional and spiritual effects as well.  I came across some lines when I was using the “search inside” feature at Amazon.com which I found very much on point

“This book defines spiritual clutter as anything that gets in the way of opening up to our source of innate wisdom and divine guidance.”

“When we live our lives on automatic pilot we lose touch with the things and activities that make our hearts sing, and cringe.”

The book also contains simple actions to take (rituals) to work on releasing and letting go, talks about the use of altar work in this process, and gives a lot of practical advise on both simple steps to start clearing out the clutter in your life.  It touches on affirmations and gratitude work and seems to be quite a lovely book about reclaiming one’s life not only from a messy house but from the deeper emotional and spiritual issues that get in the way of accomplishing the goal in the first place.

Lady Rose & I were recently talking about what to buy with an Amazon gift certificate earned through the generous purchases of you, our readers.  We considered a tarot deck (to use in all our 2Witches videos, etc), we considered a book on blogging, but after skimming what content I could online I feel compelled to buy this book.  Especially as Lady Rose and I are both working on clearing not only physical clutter in our homes, but emotional and spiritual clutter as well.

Besides which if I buy it now, it can be here in time for her next visit.

Your Spacious Self: Clear Your Clutter and Discover Who You Are

As an aside … Mrs.B of Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom is hosting a comment contest on her blog. As part of her own de-cluttering efforts she is going to be raffling off books she is getting rid of. The first raffle is for the book Witch on the Go: A Book of Spells to Take With You by Cal Garrison.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:books, clutter

When life asks you dance – always say YES!

Dances with Life (by Lady Rose)

Each morning I wake is another day to accept life’s invitation to dance.
To follow the beat of my own drum.
To spin, twirl, dip and shake a tail feather.
Should death tap my shoulder and want to cut in,
I will smile and say no I’m not ready for the last dance just yet.
But when that time comes and my dance card has reached it’s end,
I will graciously extend my hand and dance off into the light,
Till the wheel comes round and life asks me to dance again.

*************************

Some times I wake up in the middle of night with the oddest things in my head. Thank goodness for blogging so I can jot down some of them. This is what was rambling through my brain the day after attending a funeral last week.

Bright blessings to one and all, Lady Rose
(cross posted on the Diet Pulpit)

Written by Lady RoseTags:celebrate life, death, poem