AT THE PODIUM
Hi! Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer. Graehawke and I have been doing typical summertime things i.e., family picnics, Yard Sales, county fairs and flea markets. And, of course, I've been reading until I thought my eyes were going to fall out. Which brings me to my main point. There are no two ways about this folks......I NEED REVIEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't mean to sound insensitive, but I can't do this by myself folks. To those who have contributed... I FALL ON MY KNEES AND KISS YOUR FEET! In order for me to keep bringing out Eclectic Muse, however, I am going to need more reviewers. Please.... any books, divinitory tools, music, even movies that anyone deems noteworthy as they pertain to our spiritual questing..... send them to me. If anyone has suggestions on what they would like to see in future issues send them my way, as well. My e-mail addy is : [email protected] I really can't stress how much I need the extra support of the readers. Without you, this will end up being nothing more than me writing about the books I've read...and I would like to present people with a broader viewpoint than that. Well, enough of my little tirade. Please message me with any and all thoughts, ideas, REVIEWS.
Until next time,
Happy learning,
Tielengrae Blackbird
EDITORS NOTE: ALL PRICES LISTED IN THIS NEWSLETTER ARE AMERICAN PRICES. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PRICES FOR YOUR COUNTRY, PLEASE CONTACT THE PUBLISHING HOUSES.
WOMEN'S STUDIES
Goddess Meditations
Goddess Meditations
Barbara Ardinger, Ph. D.
Llewellyn Publications. St. Paul, MN. 1998. 238p.,
Softcover. $17.95. ISBN:1-56718-034-5
This book is a banquet table full of guided visualizations for the purpose of connecting to the feminine archetypes in Nature. To begin, the reader can dine on appetizers of meditations for the nine values of the Great Goddess (Love, Protection, Gratitude, Trust, Community, Creativity, Spirituality, Wisdom, Priestess Power). Then the reader can "watch their weight" with some "Light" portions. These consist of such items as "Abundance with Goody Getty", "Love via Aphrodite", "Compassion and Kuan Yin", "Courage and Strength a la Wonder Woman", or the "House Blessing avec Hestia"> For the reader not concerned about calories, there are some "heavy" portions in "Dark" sauces. These include: "Cutting Ties with the Fates", "Dumping Old Toxic Tapes with General Terminatrix and Her Cosmic HasMet Crew", going with Hel to meet your shadow, and "The Widdershins Spiral with Grandmother Spider". For the connoisseurs of Goddess works there are visualizations designated for the Chakra Goddesses and also the "Goddess Pillar". This particular exercise has its basis in the Qabala, in particular Israel Regardie's meditation on the "Middle Pillar". This one is sure to wake up the taste buds of any practicing meditator. Last, but not least: Dessert. These items consist of small affirmations or "Goddesses of Pure Meditation". There are the four elemental ones. The seasons each have one, as do the following: Prophecy (Egeria), Learning (Sheshat), The Mother (Cybele), Beauty (Oshun) and Justice (Astraea), to name a few. So if you're hungry for meditations and visualizations with a more "feminine taste" than Burger King, try this book. Well worth the $17.95 per person. Also, it can be open 24 hours for interested parties.
RECOMMENDED
Reviewer: Chuck Lukens
The Women's Wheel of Life
The Women's Wheel of Life: Thirteen Archetypes of Woman at her Fullest Power.
Elizabeth Davis and Carol Leonard.
Viking Arkana: NY, 1996. 240p.
Hardcover, $22.95. ISBN: 0-670-86227-4
Any woman interested in finding ways to understand herself will find this book fascinating. Written by women for women, it takes the faces of the Goddess, and expands them into archetypes which apply to women at different stages of life. In addition to the common faces of the triple Goddess, a fourth face called the Matriarch has been added between Mother and Crone. This addition makes the concept of the Goddess more accessible to women of every age. This book draws on the experiences of the authors, as well as upon numerous interviews they conducted with women ages 11-80+.
I highly recommend this book to any woman who would like to understand herself, as well as to any man who would like to learn more about the life changes of the women in his life.
Reviewer: Sharon Custer
Spiral Dance
Spiral Dance
Starhawk
Harper Collins. 1989 288p.
Softcover $16.00 ISBN 0-06-250815-6
I wouldn't hesitate recommending this book to anyone. Starhawk's examples and exercises are simply put, and full of visualization so almost anyone could to them. Her explanation on Centering and Grounding is one that readily comes to mind. She gave one of the best centering exercises I've ever read. Her examples include those from her own experiences and those of several members from any one of her covens. Although the book is more geared for women, I feel anyone would benefit from it.
Recommended.
Reviewer: Graehawke.
COOKBOOKS
A Kitchen Witch's Cookbook
A Kitchen Witch's Cookbook.
Patricia Telesco.
Llewellyn Publications. St. Paul, MN. 1998. 369p.,
Softcover. $17.95. ISBN: 1-56718-707-2
Anyone who knows me well knows that cooking is not my forte. As a matter of fact, it could be said that I create culinary nightmares when left unsupervised in the kitchen. I used to believe that there was no hope of ever changing me into a self-sufficient cook. That belief, however, is starting to fall by the wayside thanks to this wonderful cookbook. After reading how to make the kitchen and pantry a magickal workplace, I realized that I no longer need to be the laughing "stock" of family picnics. While this book will not turn me into a Master Chef, it will help me to make edible delights to that will *WOW* my friends and relatives. This cookbook will soon replace Betty Crocker on my shelves. There are recipes for everything from appetizers to main dishes; each with their own magickal associations. This feature alone is what impressed me the most. Now I can serve foods that will not only aid in grounding ritual participants but also boost any workings that take place. I like the fact that Ms. Telesco added a chapter on canning. This is a major ordeal in my family. We have always had a vegetable garden of some sort, with canning taking place as soon as the food was ready. Now we can make this event even more magickal and fun than it has been. Rather than just a jar of preserves, we can turn them into a jar of protection, love, or peace. Is there a cook in your family? Someone who just likes to add a little *ZING* to everyday meals? Get them this book. It will not only enhance the food, it will help make your lives a little more magickal.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Reviewer: Chuck Lukens
A Kitchen Witch's Cookbook
A Kitchen Witch's Cookbook.
Patricia Telesco.
Llewellyn Publications. St. Paul, MN. 1998. 369p.,
Softcover. $17.95 ISBN: 1-56718-707-2
Tired of the same old hamburgers and hot dogs at the family picnics? Want to liven up the potato salad? Better yet, want to introduce something new and interesting to members of your circle? Then this book should find its way into your kitchen. There are recipes for everything from appetizers and snacks to the main course and dessert. The recipes have been chosen from all parts of the globe. They also have one thing in common: they are designed to bring magic into your culinary delights. There's even a section on canning for those of us who grow our own produce. This book is written with charm and wit. The author truly enjoys cooking and it shows. So if you want to add a bit of the sacred to your seafood or put divine inspiration into your meatloaf put this book next to your crockpot. After all, no one ever said a cauldron couldn't run on electricity.
RECOMMENDED
Reviewer: Tielengrae Blackbird
DIVINITORY TOOLS
Fortune in a Coffee Cup
Fortune in a Coffee Cup.
Sophia.
Llewellyn Publications. St. Paul, MN. 1999. 278p.,
Softcover. $ 9.95 ISBN: 1-56718-610-6
Don't let the size of this book fool you. Its dimensions are 5" by 5 1/2", which is considerably smaller than a regulation paperback. However, this little volume contains quite a bit of knowledge. Sophia gives the history of reading coffee grounds from its inception in the Middle East and Africa (where it is still practiced today) to her own personal background with this type of divination. It is an oral tradition that has been passed down to her from her grandparents. Now, through the written word, she passes it on to the many individuals who would like to use a more exact divintory method. This book is easy to read and the coffee grounds readings, themselves are easy to perform. All anyone needs is a white coffee cup, a few extra coffee grounds, and an imagination. The readings are no more difficult than looking at pictures in clouds. It's truly that simple. Want to make your morning cup of coffee more than just a way to get caffeine into your system? Buy this book. Open more than just your physical eyes with your morning java.
RECOMMENDED
Reviewer: Chuck Lukens
Office Oracle
Office Oracle.
Patricia Monaghan.
Llewellyn Publications. St. Paul, MN. 1999. 216p.,
Softcover. $7.95 ISBN: 1-56718-464-2
Patricia Monaghan has developed a new way to utilize spare change. You can use it as a meditative signpost while at work. All you need are four coins (two each of varying sizes), a few minutes of silence, and this book. There are 200 different oracles for the benefit of keeping in touch with your spiritual side while in the "working" world. Just toss the coins three times, follow the numerical value chart, then read the oracle for the number you rolled. It's that simple. No fuss, no hassle (special number to use in case of interruptions), and best of all, no need to wait until the planets are in a certain alignment. No offense to those who practice Ceremonial Magick, but I prefer the simple approach. If you do too, then this book's for you. It's fabulous fun fortune telling for less than a cup of coffee.
RECOMMENDED
Reviewer: Chuck Lukens
The Sacred Circle Tarot
The Sacred Circle Tarot:
Anna Franklin; illustrated by Paul Mason.
Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, MN. 1998. 312p, 78 full-color cards.
Softcover. $29.95 ISBN: 1-56718-457-X
I did not know what to expect from this deck. Most of the images were done via computer graphics and Adobe Photoshop. This was a far cry from the traditional painted/charcoaled/sketched images prevalent on most tarot decks. So I approached this particular deck with a little suspicion mixed in my curiosity. And was delightfully shocked by their ability to blend modern and ancient themes. The imagery is made much more compelling by utilizing the technology that surrounds us. The pictures on the cards feel as if you could reach out and touch them; almost 3-D like in their appearance. The description of the Fool's journey around the wheel, as seen in the Major Arcana, has been difficult to follow in other tarots. However, Anna Franklin has done a masterful job of parlaying the trip in such a manner that it almost felt like I was on a guided tour. Some may find this disrespectful of tradition. I find it highly imaginative and a welcome addition to my spiritual travels.
RECOMMENDED
Reviewer: Chuck Lukens
Co-Editor's note: Due to some changes being made, The Village Green section will not be a part of this issue. Please see the next issue of Spiritual Voices for both an explanation and the updated Village Green. Thank you, Graehawke.
