Neuse River Witch

Star Power - A Simple Guide to Astrology for the Modern Mystic

September 30, 2018

Today I'm reviewing Star Power: A Simple Guide to Astrology for the Modern Mystic by Vanessa Montgomery.

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Disclaimer: I am going to preface this review with the following statement. I do not practice Wicca. I am not a priestess nor do I claim any religious affiliation. I identify as an atheist witch and my review of any pagan/witchcraft books is presented from this point of view.

As always I'll start with the physical attributes of the book. This book is solid. It is not as tall as some of the books I have reviewed but it is substantial. The front and back cover offer tables with the planets, signs and elements. There is no index in this book but there is a page of suggested reading. The images in the book are limited to clip art and some basic line drawings. If you're looking for a book that will tell your sign what to do with an investment I would recommend you select a different book. If you're looking for instruction on how to fully understand a star chart, this is your book.

This book starts with a brief history of astrology. And when I say brief, I mean brief. Only one - two pages are dedicated to this. The book also includes a section on the language of astrology. This section is very useful. Time after time I see books that are this directed towards a specific topic, that they forget that someone may be picking up this book for the first time. While I appreciate the advanced studies in many of the pieces I have reviewed to this point, I feel a special connection to those authors who take the time to bring their reader up to speed. Be it with an introduction, a preface or including this type of glossary as a chapter as part of the book. As someone who excelled in vocabulary, I believe that understanding the exact definition of the word the author is using helps me insure that I am on the same page and able to learn as much as I can from the text.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Image Source - Star Power

I enjoyed the section on unlocking your birth chart (page 12) this section goes into detail about what they are, and how to use them. It contains great images of star charts and offers detailed instructions on learning to read them. The first step however is obtaining your star chart. I have found several websites that offer free star charts and there is a plethora of software out there that you can buy to help you create your own.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Image Source - Star Power

Each section of this book builds on the previous, there are no quick references here. I have found that this is something you just need to sit down and read to be able to fully understand your own chart.

Overall I found this book extremely informative and full of the complete details you need to decipher a star chart. I think that this book will benefit the learned reader but does offer some interest for the beginner. The author guides us through the art of learning to read our own charts and will perhaps open up a interest in reading for others. An excellent guide and I highly recommend.

The Holy Wild - A Heathen Bible for the Untamed Woman - A Review

September 29, 2018

Today I'm reviewing The Holy Wild - A Heathen Bible for the Untamed Woman by Danielle Dulsky.

Cover

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Generally I like to start out with a disclaimer. I am an atheist witch. I look for the connection between magic and science without the need for a deity. I receive no compensation for these reviews and all my links are standard Amazon links and not affiliate links. I am a practicing photo reader and have spent the last 13 years honing my craft. I offer personal readings by request and have a strong online history that boasts nearly 400,000 views.

Staring with basic review of the physical book. I was sent a soft cover to review. The outside is made of that soft material that feels almost like fur. Not my favorite. However, I was blown away by the index. A full seven pages front and back are dedicated to helping you locate what you need to find quickly in this book. Many author's overlook this. In my opinion any good book will after at least a minimal index but this one goes over and above with this massive listing. The book has no illustrations or images. The cover image is impressive and I really enjoyed the forward by Bayo Aromolaf, PhD.

The chapters of the book are separated into books. Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether. Each include a section on verses and a section on rituals for each book. As my interest is piqued by Hecate I grabbed the index and found the Book of Ether, on page 212 was Hecate. I was a bit disappointed to see that Hecate was referred to as the Crone/Hag goddess. We know historically that all depictions of her have been of a maiden. Only early references to her by Aleister Crowley mention Hecate as a "hag". That stuck and many authors use that description of her. She is a triple goddess but not in the maiden, mother, crone construct.

My favorite ritual by far in this book can be found on page 137. It's called "Our Shared Crucible: A Three-Part Ritual of Deep Transmutation. Further because of my interest in fire scrying I found the ritual "Pyromancy of the Prophetess: A Ritual of Divination by Firelight" to be extremely rewarding.

Over all, I believe this is a great book for any witchy library and has an uplifting "self help" quality to is. It is empowering and showcases the untamed women of witchcraft.

Home Reserve - A Review

September 27, 2018

Today I'm reviewing a furniture system called Home Reserve. Basically it is modular furniture that you can connect together to create a complete living-room. From a playpen to a single armless chair this company offers renewable made to order furniture with the ability to replace the covers at will. They offer you the ability to test drive an armless chair for 30 days free. We took advantage of that offer and below is the first unboxing of that chair.

So after we had the chair for about 15 days we decided that we did like it and we wanted to order some additional pieces for the RV. Keep in mind we're looking to downsize but still have access to some storage and be comfortable. The pet friendly fabrics are amazing. And frankly, I don't think I have ever found any that were made as well as the covers for this stuff. It is so cool you can order replacement covers to change the entire look if you want.

Here's our second unboxing.

So over all, we love the furniture. We're still working on the inside of the rig to get it exactly the way we want it to look but I think this is a great start. Plus, if we decide to park somewhere permanently we can always order more pieces to make a bigger pit group or something. If you would like to try this out, I highly recommend.

I did have two smaller pillows that I ordered along with the second chair, but they were way smaller than I expected. I contacted the customer service department and they told me to just return them. I boxed them up and sent them back. Within a few days I had a complete refund on my account for the pillows.

I'm not getting paid for this. I bought all this furniture myself and was not compensated in anyway for this review.

Eat Real to Heal by Nicolette Richer - A Review

September 24, 2018

As part of a new section to my blog, I have invited my husband, Elijah Olson to begin sharing some of his research and expertise on health and food related books and submissions. This comes on the heels of his upcoming book. I hope you enjoy this new venture into kitchen magic in healing with food. I look forward to your comments as we move forward with our Meatless Monday series.

Book Cover

Today I am reviewing a book written by Nicolette Richer called Eat Real to Heal. Nicolette uses the Gerson Therapy or otherwise known as the Gerson Method as a basis for her book.

Nicolette does a fantastic job of breaking it down even further into easily digestible chunks of information for the layman. She adds her personal journey as well as personal accounts from clients that really allows the reader to engage and relate. She speaks specifically to chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

Nicolette has not only researched but she has also experimented and proven these methods to work on herself and her family and this is relayed clearly throughout the book. She has provided clear steps for the reader and included meal planning and recipes. She is an accomplished businesswoman that promotes healthy eating and healthy living.

You can give this book an added home on your shelf, you will not be disappointed.

Book available on Amazon

Author: Nicolette Richer
Publisher: Mango Publishing

Guest Reviewer: Elijah Olson

Light Magic for Dark Times - A Review

September 22, 2018

Today I'm reviewing Light Magic for Dark Times by Lisa Marie Basile, founder of Luna Luna Magazine.

Book Cover

Author Web Site
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Generally I like to start out with a disclaimer. I am an atheist witch. I look for the connection between magic and science without the need for a deity. I receive no compensation for these reviews and all my links are standard Amazon links and not affiliate links. I am a practicing photo reader and have spent the last 13 years honing my craft. I offer personal readings by request and have a strong online history that boasts nearly 400,000 views.

This is a pretty solid book from a binding perspective. Even without a dust jacket the color and printing are vibrant and easy to read. The cover is great and the author not only added my favorite bit, an index but arranged the chapters by subject. This makes it a great to use as a reference book, which in my opinion is what all spell/ritual books are. The only thing that would make this a bit easier would be color tabs on the edges of the pages to allow you to flip directly to a section. They did however put the chapter numbers on the edges of the pages, which was a great addition. Over all the contents page is fantastic.

By far this is one of the most modern ritual/spell books I have reviewed to date. On page 82, the author gives us a spell to recharge after attending a protest or doing social justice work.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Photo Source - Light Magic for Dark Times

My only real issue is the relating of magic to colors. In the recharge spell, the author has the following:

With the face-up palms, begin to envision the universe's energy coming into you. Feel it charging through you as a pure white light.

While this may not be the author's intention, using references making the color black bad, or negative is something we see in all sorts of literary sources and in my opinion is something that ingrains racism into our society. For centuries magic has been practiced by all sorts of people. From those who attended high society Greek/Roman events to those frequenting the cemeteries of the bayou to cast their spells. Magic is magic. Adding color to it, in my opinion, promotes colonialism.

I really enjoyed the spell on page 90 called "A Spell for Saying Hell No to Labels". The ritual reads like directions for making yourself a better person. This is what I say everyday to those sending me messages on my Facebook page or clients who are looking for making changes in their lives. You have to say it out. YOU have to own it. You must see yourself living the results of the spell. If you don't see it, how will it come to fruition? It won't. You have to own it!

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Photo Source - Light Magic for Dark Times

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I think that this would make a fine addition to any magical library. I would encourage my readers however, to take some time to explore the links I have provided at the end of my blog to have a long hard look at what we call white magic and black magic. Intentions are one thing, magic is another. Think of it this way. Trucks are neither male nor female. Its a machine with no gender. Yet, we sit and allow marketing teams to convince us that if our little girl wants a truck, it's the end of the world. Magic too, has no gender. It has no color. Magic is magic. No more, no less.

More Reading
The Black is Bad Effect - Scientific America
Can Asatru Be Saved From the Racists - The Atlantic
How Worshiping Thor Turned Racist - Vice
Gray Witchcraft - The Porcelain Pumpkin
20 Years After Midnight - South Magazine

HungryRoot - A Review

September 16, 2018

Today I'm reviewing the home food delivery service Hungryroot. Hungryroot is a company that delivers vegan meals that can be prepared in 10 minutes or less and are gluten free, organic (when possible) and of course vegan.

After moving to New Mexico, I can say that I fell off the wagon. I started eating meat again including beef and of course soon after the animal products came back as well. About a month ago Elijah and committed to get back in shape as we're both turning 50 and want to get our butts in shape! We checked our meals and figured that not only were we eating tons of fat but we were up to 30 grams of sugar a day. It was completely out of control.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson

So far I really like the Kholrabi dishes. They are my favorite. There is a bit of inconsistency in the sauces sometimes. Sometimes they are a bit spicier than others. Sometimes a little more onion than others. I wish we could correct that. I really enjoyed the tofu they have. There are two types. Spicy and Lemongrass. Both are excellent with any stir fry. We have started ordering just the tofu and using that in our own super blend mixes from the grocery store. Over this is a great service. Elijah and I have both already lost 10 pounds each. Not to mention we're learning new ways to create our own dishes in ways we would have never tried.

Here's a video of us actually making one of the dishes.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson

We tried both sizes of boxes. The first one was way too much food for us. We ended up throwing out 1/2 of the sauces. They give you a huge amount of food and you'll easily have left overs. We moved back to the smaller box and then eventually cut down to just the main parts we wanted and are now picking up the super-blend mix and the riced cauliflower from the store.

So here's my first boxing of our first order from Hungryroot. If you think you might like to try it out, use my code. You'll get a discount and so will I.

https://www.hungryroot.com/r/JDUZ0G

Another unboxing of Hungryroot

I'll check in over the next few weeks to review how the weight is going. Hopefully we'll have dropped another 10lbs at next check in.

The Ultimate Guide to Chakras - A Review

September 14, 2018

Today I'm reviewing The Ultimate Guide to Chakras - The Beginner's Guide to Balancing, Healing, and Unblocking Your Chakras for Health and Positive Energy by Athena Perrakis, Ph.D. Founder of Sage Goddess.

Book Cover

Photo Credit - Renee Olson
Photo Source - The Ultimate Guide to Chakras
Illustration - Roberta Orpwood

The photos are really well done too. Too many times authors overlook the importance of including complementing imagery along with their content. This is not the case with this book. Each page brightly colored page pulled me into the book, and I was happy to go. Of course I flipped quickly to the back of the book to look for my favorite part, the index. This book includes a full index with several cross references to help you locate exactly what you're looking for.

The book is broken down in sections dedicated to each chakra. Reflection questions get you in a good frame of mind to begin the study with a table provided with correspondences for each chakra. To me, the most interesting part was the Goddess associated with the chakra. This was my first exposure to Hecate being connected to the Third Eye Chakra. (pg. 135 & 137). The Third Eye Chakra is associated with intuition and clarity. I particularly like the incantation at the end of the section that reads:

"Oracle Goddesses and Goddesses of the Third Sight, illuminate me with your wisdom and your visions. I give thanks for your guidance. Amen, A'ho, So it is."

As a reader I find myself asking for a similar gift while working with my client's submissions. At times reading can be a challenge when you allow the distractions of the world to seep in. I have called upon Hecate often when scrying for guidance. This chapter (as in all of the others) moves on to discuss the essential oils and herbs of the chakra. Two of my favorite stones all into the third eye, which again, was a surprise to me - Labradorite and Lapis Lazuli. There are oil recipes as well as exercises to activate the chakras, I could go on for hours about everything in this book but my favorite has to be the mantras that are included. On page 148 the author tells us that in Sanskrit, Wah yantee is translated as "wisdom of infinity". I was able to locate a video that uses this is mantra and have placed it below.

The mantra is:
Wah yantee kar yantee, jag dut patee,
aadak it waha, brahmaday trayshaa guroo, it wahay guroo

Translation
Great Macroself, Creative Self. All that is creative through time, all that is the Great One. Three aspects of God: Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh. That is Wahe Guru.*

*credit to http://www.lizzcohoon.com/blog/mantrawahyantee for the translation and video link*

Over all I think this is a great book to have in your library. The attention to detail, the amazing artwork and of course that index is enough to give this book five stars!

Tarot Made Simple - A Review

September 4, 2018

Today I'm reviewing Tarot Made Simple by Liz Dean, author of The Ultimate Guide to Tarot.

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Release Date: September 4, 2018

Disclaimer: I am going to preface this review with the following statement. I do not practice Wicca. I am not a priestess nor do I claim any religious affiliation. I identify as an atheist witch and my review of any pagan/witchcraft books is presented from this point of view.

This book is put together in a very unique manner. I have reviewed many Tarot books and this by far has the most layouts of any other book I have reviewed to date.