magic Archives - Page 4 of 5 - Antony Simpson is an Author, Blogger, Nurse & Witch.

Book Review: Spellcraft for Hedge Witches by Rae Beth

Tuesday 15 August 2017 / Antony Simpson / Leave a Comment

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Spellcraft for Hedge Witches is a remarkable book about natural magic, spell craft and paganism by Rae Beth.

It is aimed at Hedge Witches (solitary practitioners) of all levels who are in need of healing for themselves or others.
Beth’s part-conversational and part-instructional writing style is engaging and informative.

Spellcraft for Hedge Witches covers all things natural magic including:

The basics: tools, visualisation, magic as energy, how to raise – intent – release energy and the importance of having a strong emotional resonance when spell casting.
Throughout brief mentions of the history of the Craft.
Magical Correspondence (along with why they’re important).
More advanced ways of working (nicely done as the book progresses so does the spell craft).
How to communicate and work with: the Fae, elemental spirits and the God/Goddess.

Here’s a list of spells in the book:
1. Spell to Heal Anything.
2. Chant for Power.
3. Spell to Banish Abuse from a Relationship.
4. Spell to Banish Humiliation.
5. Spell to Counter an Ill Wish.
6. Spell to Gain Psychic Protection.
7. Spell for Transforming Destructive Feelings.
8. Spell to Heal Psychological Trauma.
9. Spell for Justice.
10. Spell to Consecrate Your Life to a Chosen Purpose.
11. Spell to Gain the Right Home.

Dotted throughout Spellcraft for Hedge Witches are superb illustrations and purely on a visual front, these would have been even better if they had been in colour.

I’ve been pagan for well over a decade and still learned many things from Spellcraft for Hedge Witches. Beth also reminded more of many more things that I already knew, but had forgotten about. I found the ideas in this book inspiring.

Throughout Spellcraft for Hedge Witches Beth encourages the reader to be creative when spell casting and do what works for them. Beth truly is a wise-woman and this book is bursting with her wisdom.

I would highly recommend Spellcraft for Hedge Witches to any Witch, pagan or other follower of an earth-based religion. I bought it from The Goddess and the Green Man shop on a recent trip Glastonbury (read about it and see photos by clicking this link). It is available to buy on Amazon.

If you enjoyed this review, you might like my All Paganism, Witchcraft & Magic Content page.

Review soon,

Antony

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Book Review: The Craft – A Witch’s Book Of Shadows by Dorothy Morrison

Thursday 18 August 2016 / Antony Simpson / Leave a Comment

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The Craft – A Witch’s Book Of Shadows by Dorothy Morrison is a brilliant book about The Craft.

I’ve been pagan for a long time, but it’s always good to go back over the basics. This book covers: working with power sources, magical boosters, tools (including Wand, Cup, Athame, Pentacle & other tools), casting a circle and pagan festivals.

Morrison has a warm, engaging and humorous writing style. Reading The Craft is like having an intimate and meaningful conversation with Morrison herself. She writes in a way that informs, ultimately inspires and without a single word wasted.

The Craft is bursting with little gems of knowledge and wisdom such as:

1. “When all elements are used in equal combination, they form static electricity.” (p. 20)
2. “successful magic relies heavily upon emotion rather than logic.” (p. 33)
3. “Magic usually works in twenty-one days, or not at all.” (p. 29)
4. “Part of basic witchery is learning to work with what you have and substitute if need be.” (p. 41)
5. “Not only must we engage our brains when performing magic, we must use them effectively. We have to be able to think, concentrate and focus. We must reply on the creative flow.” (p. 97-98)
6. “When we take our place in the center of the Circle and take our place as Akasha, we provide a perfectly balanced arena from which magic flows…” (p. 112)

(All are direct quotes from The Craft – A Witch’s Book Of Shadows by Dorothy Morrison)

I learned some new things and gained an even deeper understanding of somethings by reading The Craft. No matter who you are or what experiences in The Craft you have, undertake all activities and exercises in the book. I undertook all activities and exercises and they all benefited me. Each of the activities are designed to encourage personal growth and learning.

The only thing The Craft missed out is any reference or explanation of what a Book of Shadows is.

The Craft – A Witch’s Book Of Shadows by Dorothy Morrison is a must have for any Witch. It is an excellent reference book for moon phases, sun phases, days of the week, times of day, pagan festivals, plants, herbs, trees, magical tools, dream symbols, stones, deities and the Book of Law.

The Craft – A Witch’s Book Of Shadows by Dorothy Morrison has made it on to my top shelf where my all-time favourite books are kept. It is one that I will read again and reference regularly.

If you liked this post, you might like my All Paganism, Witchcraft & Magic Content page.

Review soon,

Antony

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The difference between a House and a Home

Friday 12 August 2016 / Antony Simpson / 4 Comments

Reading Time: 2 minutes

home-apartment-mill-large — My Apartment is in a former Cotton Mill. Image Illustrated by Sye Watts.

A house is a building usually with four walls, a roof, windows and doors that people live in. Whereas a home can be any sort of dwelling and is infinitely more. A home is:

A destination that you always look forward to arriving at.
A sense of belonging.
A place where kin come together to socialise, share meals, drink and be merry.
A place filled with laughter.
A place where birthdays, Christmas and other events are celebrated.
A place of mental and emotional comfort.
A place of physical comfort.
A place of good memories.
A place of love, affection and sex.
A place that can be quiet or noisy.
A place that may have children, pets and plants that need caring for.
A place of growth.
A place of life and death.
A place filled with sentimental items: photos, ornaments and artwork.
A place of safety.
A place where you can be yourself without fear of judgement.
A place where you can feel exactly as you do without having to explain.
A place you feel yourself immediately relax on entering.
A place of mediation and reflection.
A place where you can dance unobserved.
Somewhere that there’s always a cup of tea on offer.
A place where good meals are made and devoured.
A place filled with sentimental items: photos, ornaments and artwork.
A place where personal hygiene takes place.
A place where pyjamas are worn.
A place where books are read and your imagination is ignited & stimulated.
A place where TV and films are watched.
A place where music is listened to and enjoyed.
A place of privacy.
A place where some practice their faith, religion or magic.
A place where more than one language may be spoken, sometimes in the same conversation.
A place that is part of a vibrant and diverse community.

I am so fortunate. Seven years ago I bought my own apartment (see The Move) and it quickly became my own home. But what makes me feel really fortunate, is that I have several other places that feel like home. Places where friends and self-proclaimed-adoptive-families live.

Take care,

Antony

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Some Hopefully Inspirational Quotes from Yours Truly

Friday 8 April 2016 / Antony Simpson / Leave a Comment

Reading Time: < 1 minute

This is the sixth and final in a series of inspirational quotes blog posts. The first was 14 Inspirational Quotes on Gay People, the second was 14 Inspirational Quotes on Love, the third was 10 Inspirational Quotes on Self-love, the forth was 13 Inspirational Quotes on Friendship and fifth was 16 Inspirational Quotes on Life.

Here’s some hopefully inspirational quotes from yours truly:

some-hopefully-inspirational-quotes-from-yours-truly-antony-simpson — Some Hopefully Inspirational Quotes from Yours Truly (Antony Simpson)

And here’s a lovely quote to finish this blog post series on:

“Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow.” – William Shakespeare

Blog soon,

Antony

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