However, that doesn’t mean that I am not a huge admirer of many people and their wonderful work.

In terms of authors who write about Pagan/witchery/earth-based spirituality topics, high up on that list ranks Maia Toll.

For more than a decade now, my husband and I have run a free new book email notification service called AnyNewBooks.com that we founded back in 2010. (It generates important income for us via sponsors and affiliate programs.)

Virtually every week since then, a not-insignificant portion of my working hours have been spent compiling the lists of new books that we email out to subscribers (at present, we send out more than 300,000 emails per month).

The lists that we pull our selections from come via Amazon (US) and in the eleven going on twelve years since we launched Any New Books?, I have had the pleasure of seeing many thousands of new book releases each year.

Naturally, I keep a keen eye out for titles pertaining to my many diverse interests – those relating to my spirituality very much included.

I knew the moment, back in 2018, when I first caught sight of author Maia Toll’s inaugural book, The Illustrated Herbiary, that this was not your run-of-the-mill title.

Shortly thereafter, I was able to purchase a copy and it took a mere few lines in to have my suspicions confirmed.

From the tremendously lovely illustrations by artist Kate O’Hara to the deck of oracle cards included at the back of the book to the personable, inviting, knowledgeable way the author wrote, I was hooked.

And based on the roughly 1,800 reviews (nearly all of which are glowingly positive) that this book currently has on Amazon as of March 2022, it is safe to say that many others instantly fell in love with Maia’s warm, wonderful writing as well.

In the time since The Illustrated Herbiary was released, Maia has penned three more books.

The Illustrated Bestiary, The Illustrated Crystallary, and, most recently, Maia Toll’s Wild Wisdom Companion.

In addition, larger-sized decks of the oracle cards included at the back of each of Maia’s books are also available for sale. They are printed on sturdier paper than those that come with her books, so if you plan to use one or more of Maia’s decks quite often, you may wish to invest in those high-quality decks. Which are as follows:

–The Illustrated Herbiary Oracle Cards: 36-Card Deck of Bewitching Botanicals

–The Illustrated Bestiary Oracle Cards: 36-Card Deck of Inspiring Animals

–The Illustrated Crystallary Oracle Cards: 36-Card Deck of Magical Gems & Minerals

Plus, you can now purchase images from some of Maia’s work in puzzle form as well (as a big jigsaw puzzle fan, you can imagine how much my eyes lit up when I heard about that!).

If you or someone in your life adores jigsaw puzzles, you’ll want to check out the following three offerings based on Maia’s books.

–The Illustrated Herbiary Puzzle: California Poppy

–The Illustrated Bestiary Puzzle: Monarch Butterfly

–The Illustrated Crystallary Puzzle: Garden Quartz

As 2021 began to wind down, I was contacted by a publishing rep and asked if I would be interested in reviewing Maia’s latest book.

Already a big fan of her earlier works (of which, thus far, I own two – The Illustrated Herbiary and The Illustrated Beastiary, respectively), I was honoured by the offer and replied with a very resounding, “Yes, please!”.

In addition, I suggested that I interview Maia by email and then weave that chat into my book review blog posts. Happily, it was then their turn to respond enthusiastically.

Before delving into the coven’s worth of questions that I asked Maia, I am going to provide you with my thoughts on her most recent release, Maia Toll’s Wild Wisdom Companion.

Please note that while I was provided with a complimentary copy of that book and three decks of Maia’s oracle cards (visible in many of the photos throughout this post), all thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own and would not differ in any way, had I purchased those items myself.

Book specs:

Name: Maia Toll’s Wild Wisdom Companion: A Guided Journey into the Mystical Rhythms of the Natural World, Season by Season

Author: Maia Toll – Connect with Maia on her website | Instagram |Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Page count: 192 pages

Publisher: Storey Publishing

Binding: Hardcover

A passionate look at the year as viewed from a nature and spirituality-based standpoint

Let me begin by saying that, while the content housed within the pages of Maia Toll’s Wild Wisdom Companion is bound to find favour with many witches, Wiccans, Pagans, and the like around the globe, it is an inclusive title that can be enjoyed by those from a wide array of spiritual paths.

As many of my blog posts attest to, I have immeasurable love of, and appreciation for, each of the eight Pagan sabbats that comprise The Wheel of the Year (TWOTY) – just as I do, the year’s annual seasons.

I literally get giddy as a new season approaches, no matter which one it is! And by the same token, often feel a touch of melancholy as we bid farewell to a departing chapter of the year.

Since early childhood (years before I would first officially encounter the concept of TWOTY), I have felt as though each of the four seasons was more like two smaller seasons combined under the same header.

In some respects, I even viewed each individual month as a mini-season unto itself.

I am not alone in seeing and feeling that the year naturally divides itself into each roughly equal chapters: Early Winter, Late Winter, Early Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, and Late Fall.

You can well imagine then how delighted I was to see that in the Wild Wisdom Companion, Maia opted to present us with a look at a full year laid out in that very format.

Across the 192 pages of this gorgeously illustrated hardcover book (which was released in 2021), the author guides readers through the natural rhythms and cycles of the year.

She begins each chapter in an endearingly charming and whimsically creative way: by presenting us with a fictional conversation between the Sun and the Earth.

Each chat we are privy to presents a touching picture of how these two mighty celestial forces interact and the timeless dance that they enact so that life as we know it on this planet is able to continue onward.

I wholeheartedly loved this element of the book, just as I did many other things about the Wild Wisdom Companion.

In addition to the delightful imaginary conversations mentioned above, each chapter leads us through other factors that are presented for the year’s eight seasons.

These include an Element, an energy centre in the body, a plant medicine, an animal medicine (the presence of that term instantly reminded me of the book Spirit Animal Guides in which author Chris Luttichau uses very similar terminology), a crystal medicine, and three different seasonal symbols.

While some of the selections for each of these entries feel like a very natural fit, others are wonderfully unexpected. They help to prove a fun, fresh take on various plants, animals, mythical figures and so forth that are linked to each season.

In addition, beautiful quotes from other people are peppered throughout this book as well.

Though you might easily think that it would, the Wild Wisdom Companion does not specifically focus on the Pagan sabbats that comprise TWOTY.

However, the dividing points at which Maia has chosen to portion out the year do essentially correspond with each of the eight annual sabbats (those being Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas, Mabon, Samhain, and Yule).

No doubt some readers will wish that there was more of a sabbat focus here. Yet, by not placing the sabbats in the spotlight Wild Wisdom Companion is able to become just that – a welcome companion – to a far broader spectrum of readers.

Instead of the sabbats, the year’s two Solstices and two Equinoxes are explored. These are astronomically determined points on the calendar that the whole planet experiences and thus they are an integral component of the human experience.

In her lovely introduction to this book, Maia states: “Wild wisdom is feeling in accord with the hawk flying overhead; it’s feeling sisterhood with the willows; it’s knowing that the stones are millennia older than humans and have much to teach about the passage of time. Wild wisdom is the sense of being in sync with the world around you, so much so that you feel safe and at home in your own skin. It’s a feeling we’re all looking for but very few achieve.”

She goes on to elaborate regarding ways to find or connect all the more with your own innate wild wisdom before sharing with us how she broke down the year into eight different segments, presenting that information as it applies to both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

In addition, Maia begins her year – when divided into eight parts – in Late Autumn.

A good many witches/Wiccans/Pagans feel that doing so aligns with their personal beliefs and their connection to nature (they don’t call Samhain the witch’s new year for nothing!), so that was a very welcome change of pace to observe in this book.

Throughout each season, Maia invites readers to journal and/or deeply contemplate their connection to some of the topics she addresses, as well as in regards to the seasons themselves.

If journaling is not your cup of tea (and it is 100% okay if that is the case), I feel that one can easily reflect on these topics in other ways, too.

For example during meditation, while sitting peacefully in nature, as part of spellwork, under the light of the moon or sun, or in just about any other way that feels right to you and your own path.

The Wild Wisdom Companion begins in late autumn, guides readers through an insightful, highly relatable walk through the seasons, and culminates with Early Autumn. Thus beginning the eternal cycle over again.

In fact, as you get to the final pages of this terrific book, Maia poses the question, “What if you stay right here and begin it again?”.

In doing so, she both invites and reminds of us the cyclical patterns of the seasons and the important place they hold in each of our lives.

It is a call to embrace the shifting seasonal tides all the more and to grow closer, in doing so, to Mother Earth herself.

Having experienced a whole year in a matter of hours or days (or longer), depending on the pace at which one reads this book, we are treated to the marvellous gift of a lovely deck of square-shaped oracle cards + one suggested spread for working with those cards.

Each of the double-sided cards corresponds with one of the various medicines or symbols that Maia presented us with throughout the Wild Wisdom Companion.

If one opts to work with those cards (and I highly suggest that you do, they are thoroughly lovely), this continuance between themes presented in the book and on the cards themselves is a great way unto itself to grow ever-closer to the seasons.

How Maia Toll’s Wild Wisdom Companion rates with me

This book weaves together powerful elements from each of Maia’s previous titles and opens us even more of her wisdom for us to learn from and, potentially, feel a sense of kinship with.

I knew back in 2018 when I read Maia Toll’s first book that she was a radiant beam of new light in the field of nature spirituality-based writing.

Four years on, I can tell you with unflinching certainty that not only has that light grown stronger, but it has helped to illuminate the paths of many thousands upon thousands of readers around the planet in the process.

I adore each of Maia’s books and card decks, returning to them time and time again throughout the year.

However, I must say that the Wild Wisdom Companion is my very favourite of Toll’s works to date.

I highly recommend this book to those both inside and out of the Pagan/witchy realm (and cannot help but feel that it is a title that many gardeners, nature lovers, and animal fans would delight in reading).

Maia Toll’s Wild Wisdom Companion is a well-written, intuitively presented, and extremely approachable look at the year and ways we can tap (all the more) into our own innate, incredible wild wisdom.

Working on a scale of 1 – 5, with five being the highest possible rating, I would give Maia Toll’s Wild Wisdom Companion 5 stars out of 5.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

An interview with educator, best-selling author, herbalist, and all-around lovely person, Maia Toll

Thank you with the deepest of appreciation, Maia, for sharing your time and knowledge with Witchcrafted Life’s readers. I sincerely appreciate it and cannot begin to tell you how much joy getting this opportunity to chat one-on-one with you means to me.

1. Welcome, Maia! It is a heartfelt joy and honour to chat with you regarding your latest book release – Maia Toll’s Wild Wisdom Companion – and Paganism in general. For those who are being introduced to you here today for the first time, could you please share a few points about yourself and where your passions lay most strongly at present?

Hi Everyone! I’m an author fascinated by the ways in which we can connect and learn from the natural world. Exploring the mystic has been a passion for me since I was quite young—for most of my life, I’ve been asking why are we here? And how can I be comfortable in this human skin?

These questions led me to an apprenticeship with a clinical herbalist and green witch in Ireland. That experience has informed who I have become in the time since. Like Autumn, I feel like there’s a deep bond between creativity and spirituality, so that’s a place from which I often dive into this work.

2. Wild Wisdom Companion is your fourth book to date. Is being a book author something that you long felt pulled towards becoming or did the desire and opportunity to do so develop more organically in recent years?

I have been writing since I was a kid. My first story was about a unicorn who got stuck in a bottle. I was eleven. As an adult, I would often joke that I was a writer without a story; I loved the process of writing—the peeling back of layers and the playing with words—but I didn’t have anything in particular to write about.

I had also made a rule for myself (I’m a Capricorn rising—creating, and then struggling against, rules is part of my nature) that I wouldn’t write a book unless I was bringing something new, and never before seen, to readers. It took a long while for me to get over myself and start sharing the way I see the world, even if I’m not the very first person to put those thoughts to paper.

3. What have you found to be the most rewarding and, conversely, most challenging aspects of being a highly successful author – and do you have any advice for those seeking to become first time authors in our sphere of Paganism/herbology/witchery and the like?

One of my personal goals when I started getting published was to meet other authors. Authors tend to be creative, thoughtful, widely read, and self-motivated, which is how I prefer my humans. I have two pods of authors I gather with regularly. Those get-togethers are key for my sanity, perspective, and general joie de vivre. Finding my people is one of the greatest rewards of this career path.

Just like any job, there is a myriad of challenges. Most of them are small obstacles, easily overcome. I try to get creative with the larger hurdles. Currently, I’m chewing on the way books are categorized. I believe that connection with the natural world, and the seasonal living it inspires, as well as exploring the mystical side of life are essential elements for being a whole human.

This way of looking at life nurtures creativity and helps you understand how to get through life’s rough patches. It’s much more universal than niche categories like “occult,” where I am often shelved, suggest. But which category should we highlight? Self-help? Nature writing? Spirituality?

It is an ongoing frustration that my books are shelved in a way that may keep people who would enjoy and benefit from them from finding them. And, truthfully, no matter what my opinion is, once the bookstores receive the books, they shelve them wherever they want, so my ruminations are rather pointless.

For first time authors, my number one piece of advice is write. Do the work, don’t just think about doing it. Writing, like most everything else in life, is a practice. The only way to get proficient is to put pen to paper. Once you’ve moved beyond thinking about writing to actually writing, remember that you’re writing for someone else to read. Who is your reader and what’s useful for them? What do you want them to know, feel, and do? Everything from subject matter to individual sentence structure should be crafted with the reader in mind.

4. Wild Wisdom Companion is a beautiful, eloquently penned ode to the timeless magic(k) of the seasons. I am an unwavering fan of all of your books and the wonderful sets of oracle cards they house, but must say, Wild Wisdom Companion is my absolute favourite.

Of these eight segments of the year, are there one or two in particular that you feel a particular connection to and/or affinity for – and is there one chapter of the year that you would describe as your seasonal soul mate? (Autumn is mine. )

The Wild Wisdom Companion is so many people’s favorite and I LOVE that. I’ve learned so much from writing each book and I would hope the newest one is always the favorite—that my growth as an author allows readers to go deeper with each new book.

Like you, autumn has long been my time of year. But a few years back we moved to a house in the woods. Living on some undisturbed acreage has given me a chance to lean into the entire wheel of the year in a fresh way. While I still love autumn, especially the quality of the light in the time between Samhain and winter solstice, I’ve come to adore late winter.

We have trillium, trout lilies, and some funny little ground orchids which pop up before the trees have leafed out. It is such a stunning time—the trees are still bare, letting me see through their branches to the mountains, but the ground is carpeted with leaves hiding little nodding flowers. It makes me smile just thinking about it.

5. What inspired you to write Wild Wisdom Companion? Was it a book you had long envisioned coming into being or one that sprang into being as a natural progression from your three previous titles?

This is a long (and rather tiresome) story! The short version: when I signed a contract for the book that became Wild Wisdom, it wasn’t meant to be a part of the series. Then, because the other books were doing so well, my publisher wanted it to be part of the collection. But the book I had written didn’t fit in. So, I rewrote it. Twice. And it still wasn’t right. By that point, I was exhausted and disheartened. So, I asked myself two questions:

1- If I were starting from zero, instead of trying to rejig an existing manuscript, what would best tie together the previous books? I kept thinking about a conversation with an editor who was not on my team but who was at my publishing house. We were chatting at a little wine and cheese get-together when I visited. She said, “You know, one thing you haven’t covered is time.” That comment stuck with me, and I kept chewing on it.

2- The second thing I asked myself was: what would be easy? I needed easy. I was pretty close to burned out.

A book focused on the wheel of the year was the answer to those two questions. I had been teaching on the wheel of the year for a while, so it wasn’t difficult to gather my notes and lessons and use them as a foundation. The book built up pretty quickly from there and voila! The Wild Wisdom Companion. 

6. What are some points that you feel the general public – and perhaps even some who are new to areas such as Paganism and witchcraft – would benefit from knowing about the Wheel of The Year and the perpetually vital role that it plays in the lives of all creatures great and small who inhabit our planet?

The pattern of the seasons, as they happen in more temperate climes, teaches us so much of what we need to know about the cycles of our own lives. When I’m working on a book and I’m frustrated, I ask myself where I am on the wheel: have I let go of what needs to go (autumn)? Am I gestating (winter)? Understanding where I’m at in my creative cycle lets me know what comes next and how to move forward.

This applies to other aspects of life as well. When I have birthed something new (spring), I know I still need to keep feeding it energy so it will flower (summer). When I’ve suffered a loss (autumn), I realize I might need winter’s hibernation to recover and heal.

Once you find this rhythm in your own life, you can look outward and find it in the lives of the plants, trees, and animals. It is a constant breath: inhaling energy toward you, exhaling energy out.

7. It is safe to say that the world has been through the wringer massively over the past two years due to the global pandemic. In the face of this profound ongoing challenge, what are some things pertaining to nature and/or self-care and spirituality that you feel people can do to help create a better sense of stability and wellness (emotional, physical, spiritual – or all of the above) again?

I wrote The Wild Wisdom Companion during the first tenuous months of the pandemic. Tuning in to the seasons got me through. And it’s still getting me through. Step out the door, feel the air, breathe. Our human world might be disrupted, but everything else is carrying on. Tune into that sensation.

8. How have you personally been faring during these tremendously difficult times? Have you found that they have deepened your connection to the seasons, the plant kingdom, the universe or any other facet of your spiritual journey?

The isolation from other people has been less difficult for me than most. Serendipitously, I moved to the woods a few months before Covid hit. Because I’m writing, I don’t have to go out to work. So, my days are synced to the natural rhythms. I’m getting to know this land, making friends with the trees and the creek, and working on my writing craft. Because this is what I was moving toward before Covid, for me, the inner work of the past couple of years doesn’t feel Covid related.

9. While Wild Wisdom Companion, much like your other titles, is apt to appeal to witches, Wiccans, Pagans and others of our ilk in general, I feel it is a very approachable and inviting book for all those who experience a strong connection to Mother Nature.

Can you please share a few easily doable, potent ways that just about anyone, regardless of their personal beliefs, can create or strengthen their bond with the natural world?

I love a practice that naturalists use called a “sit spot.” It’s simple, really: return to the same spot every day. Sit. Breathe. Observe. Be sure to pay attention to both the big picture stuff and the small stuff—the macro and the micro. Explore how to connect with the world around you. Try having a little dialogue in your head with a dandelion or singing to an oak. Play with what’s possible.

That’s it! Hone your powers of observation and connection.

10. At the time of this interview’s publication, we are sitting between the first two spring sabbats of Imbolc and Ostara. What are some of the key components/lessons/inspirations that you feel this wonderful point in the calendar, as the mighty return of new life and warm sunlight looms near again, can teach or remind us all?

This is a season when the energy is rising. The tiny cotyledons of the plants are reaching upward, sprouting leaves. I try to tap into that rising energy, letting it come up through the soles of my feet. And then I ask myself what do I want to grow? Sometimes I want to grow a feeling—like joy. Sometimes I want to nurture a new way of seeing the world. And sometimes I want to encourage myself to act, to bring something new into being, like a book. Our culture puts a lot of emphasis on this last one, on action. But I think the first two are equally as important.

Also, if you’re reading this and you aren’t comfortable with, or can’t relate to, words like sabbat, Imbolc, or Ostara, just leave the language by the wayside. I do, all the time. I try to think about the seasons in terms of their energetics, what I can feel in my body. In the Wild Wisdom Companion, I don’t us pagan names for the seasons because I don’t often use those words in my life.

The other day someone said Litha and I had to look up what that meant! I always try to choose words that mean something to me personally. So, I do use Samhain and Imbolc because, when I was studying in Ireland, those were the names my teacher used. I celebrated both Samhain and Imbolc with her and so those words have a resonance for me.

11. Your writing, the important messages it conveys, and the support it offers to others are all very special elements that – not unlike the magnificent illustrations from artist Kate O’Hara that are housed in your books and oracle card decks – speak to scores of people around the world.

What sorts of points do you find easiest to connect with your audience over – and are there things you have learned from them since starting your journey as an author that you did not know or (yet) fully appreciate before that point in your life?

In general, book writing happens at a distance. I sit and think and write in my space and then someone reads and reflects in theirs. I’m sure there are places in my books where readers nod along and feel resonant with what I’m saying, and other places where they think no, that’s not how I see it.

As the author, I’m not usually privy to these thoughts. Sometimes I’ll get to have conversations around this sort of thing at live events and, if you had asked me this pre-Covid, I probably would have had specific stories to share. But I have had limited contact for the past two years. I’m looking forward to once again being able to have robust conversations and share, back and forth, in person.

12. Rapid fire style… What are your favourite books that you are currently reading (or have recently read)?

Here’s my current stack:

Matrix by Lauren Groff

The Heroine with 1,001 Faces by Maria Tartar

The Awakened Brain by Lisa Miller

Still Life with Oysters and Lemon by Mark Doty

Untamed by Glennon Doyle

Missing Witches: Recovering True Histories of Feminist Magic by Risa Dickens and Amy Torok

Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown

Three Simple Lines: A Writer’s Pilgrimage into the Heart and Homeland of Haiku by Natalie Goldberg

The one witchy must-read from the last couple years is The Once and Future Witches by Alix Harrow.

And if you’re into herbal medicine, Energetic Herbalism by Kat Maier should definitely be on your bookshelf.

Kim Krans’ The Wild Unknown Archetypes Deck has been my go-to deck recently.

Crystals are in bowls and on shelves around my desk. I just reach for whatever my fingers want and hold it for as long as seems necessary. The thinking and analyzing part of my brain got over-used writing The Illustrated Crystallary so I’m in pure, unquestioning, intuition mode.

13. And last, but certainly not least… If you are able to divulge anything on this front, can you please tell us about your next book?

This is perfect timing because I’m just now able to talk about my next project! The Night School will be released August 9, 2022 and I am over-the-moon excited.

It was my first time writing in a narrator’s voice, instead of my own, and it was a blast. The Night School is for anyone who wishes they could go to a school for witches, wizards, or mystics. But it’s not fiction: the book contains the lessons you might learn were you to attend such an esteemed institution.

Thank you again, dear Maia. Not only for chatting with me and my audience, but for the extraordinary insight, care, passion, teachings, and – very aptly – wisdom that you impart to society. The earth is blessed to call you one of its own, and I know that your work will long continue to inspire, help and resonate with countless souls the world over.

Thank you, Autumn!

~*~*~*~*~*~

In closing, I would like to once again thank both Maia and her generous publisher for helping to put the wheels in motion for this blog post’s existence.

I am on the edge of my seat with anticipation regarding the forthcoming release of The Night School and hope, in time, to have the opportunity to review that title here as well.

Have you read Maia Toll’s Wild Wisdom Companion? How many seasons/half seasons does it feel most natural for you to divide your year into?

The post Author Interview & Book Review: Maia Toll’s Wild Wisdom Companion by Maia Toll appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

For those in the Northern Hemisphere who follow the Wheel of the Year, the Pagan sabbat of Beltane is upon us again.

Beltane focuses heavily on concepts pertaining to light (sunlight, bonfires, etc), a thriving growing season, love and passion, new life, embracing the liminal, the realm of the fae, and making the most of the sunny months of late spring, summer, and early autumn that lay ahead.

Beltane – which is generally observed on, or right around, May 1^st – ushers in the month of May and serves as the precise halfway point on the journey to the witch’s New Year of Samhain.

As the Wheel of the Year is reversed between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres of the world, south of the equator, Beltane is observed at the end of October (when those in the north are celebrating Halloween and Samhain).

Like its fellow Pagan sabbats, Beltane is a poignant, beautiful annual event with ancient roots and plenty of modern-day observants.

Historically, Beltane was particularly observed in Ireland, Scotland, and elsewhere throughout the UK, and was one of the four primary Gaelic seasonal festivals (with the others being Samhain, Imbolc, and Lughnasadh, respectively).

However, it is important to remember that many other cultures (both inside and beyond the borders of Europe) have long standing traditions of celebrating the arrival of spring and/or summertime as well.

The traditional Gaelic celebration of Beltane predates the introduction of Christianity in Europe. As this new religion took hold across much of the European continent, Beltane gradually morphed into the celebration of Mayday.

Fortunately, though, many of the ancient traditions of Beltane lived on in Mayday activities, including dancing around maypoles and lighting bonfires.

(Speaking of maypoles, I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Fading Year’s recent posts about The Maypole Tradition in Ireland and The May Bush Tradition in Ireland, respectively.)

Interestingly, to the ancient inhabitants of Ireland (and various other parts of the world as well), Beltane was seen as the start of summer, not the midway point of spring.

Today, some modern Pagans, Wiccans and witches view Beltane in the same light, with others opting to celebrate it as the final sabbat of spring.

Interestingly, it is because Beltane historically served as a marker for the start of summer in some areas that one of Litha’s alternative names was, and still is, Midsummer (as, in these traditions, the Summer Solstice in June was/is seen as being part way through the summer season).

Of all the Pagan sabbats, Beltane is arguably the one most closely linked to concepts of (romantic) love, lust, and sexuality. Though, importantly, it is not essential to engage or connect with these themes or archetypes, if they do not resonate with you personally.

For some who follow earth-based paths, Beltane symbols the union (aka, handfasting) of the God and Goddess coming together each spring/summer.

Beltane is a marvellously apt time of the year to shift, or further concentrate, our attention on nature, green magick, herbology, fire and candle magick, seasonal kitchen witchcraft, the wild kingdom (domestic animals very much included), faeries, concepts of union and/or family, folklore and customs, and ways to help create a brighter future for ourselves.

If you’d like to learn more about some of the history, traditions, and foods associated with Beltane, be sure to check out my post 15 Excellent Pantry Staple Foods for Beltane and Their Magickal Properties.

Books about Beltane

Over the years, a handful of books have been written specifically about Beltane.

However, this number is relatively small and a list housing just those Beltane books alone would have but a scant few entries on it.

To flesh out such as list, what I’ve done is to round up a selection of 25 books pertaining to subjects that are especially well suited to Beltane and the sunny months ahead.

The following assortment of books delves into topics such as Celtic mythology, foraging, faery magick, and even witchy cocktails!

A fair number of these books pertain to nature, as the start of May is often one of the most pleasant and enjoyable times of the year to spend outdoors.

I sincerely understand, however, that not everyone is head-over-heels for the great outdoors, is able to safely access nature (be it for health or other reasons), nor lives in an area with a rich natural landscape.

If nature isn’t (or is currently unable to be, for whatever reason), your jam, fear not. There are other Beltane related books on this list that you may connect with instead.

As well, if you do love nature, but aren’t able to engage with it in all the ways you may like, remember that it is sometimes possible to connect with the great outdoors through various methods other than literally going outside.

These include such things as the types of items we include on our altars, working with crystals, magickal correspondences, visualizations, guided meditations, hedgeriding, connecting and working with animal spirit guides, arts and crafts, cooking and eating, stargazing, and by surrounding ourselves with (or wearing) nature-related items.

While some of the following books are, unquestionably, penned from a Pagan/Wiccan/witchcraft focused perspective, many are either more broadly spiritual or have little to no focus on anything pertaining to spirituality.

As such, I hope that both fellow Pagans and witches, as well as many of my other (non-Pagan/witchy) readers will enjoy the 25 Beltane related books showcased in this alphabetically arranged list.

25 books that are wonderfully well-suited to Beltane

Beltane: Rituals, Recipes, & Lore for May Day

Author: Melanie Marquis

Publisher: Llewellyn

From Llewellyn’s popular, informative, and highly enjoyable eight-part Sabbat Essentials series comes this in-depth look at Beltane.

In Beltane: Rituals, Recipes, & Lore for May Day readers are guided through the history of Beltane, as well presented with many different as modern ways to celebrate, honour, and delight in the sabbat that kicks off May and the sunny season ahead.

These include, but are not limited to, Beltane rituals, Beltane recipes, Beltane spells, Beltane correspondences, Beltane prayers, and Beltane divination.

As one of the few books on the market today that focuses solely on Beltane, this is a title you will want to add to your collection (or borrow from the library) if you’re keen to expand your knowledge of Beltane or just want to read up more on this joyful sabbat.

Celebrating the Seasons of Life: Beltane to Mabon

Author: Ashleen O’Gaea

Publisher: Llewellyn

One of a two-part series of books released in the 2000s by renowned Pagan author Ashleen O’Gaea, Celebrating the Seasons of Life: Beltane to Mabon delves into the sabbats that comprise the warmer half of the year and presents readers with a plethora of ideas that can be done as solitary witches or in groups, inside or outdoors, with children, and even, in some instances, with non-Pagans.

I love the idea this series. The concept of approaching the sabbats as belonging to either the warm or cold half of the year aligns with my own practices – just as I know it does with those of many of my fellow witches, Wiccans, and Pagans as well.

Celtic Tales: Fairy Tales and Stories of Enchantment from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Wales

Illustrated by: Kate Forrester

Publisher: Chronicle Books

In the instantly engaging pages of Celtic Tales: Fairy Tales and Stories of Enchantment from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Wales one finds sixteen stories that were translated and recorded by 19th and 20th folklorists, all presented alongside marvellous illustrations by Kate Forrester.

As a Gaelic/Celtic festival, Beltane is a superb time to delve into reading about some of Ireland and the UK’s most fascinating and compelling traditional tales of wonder, fantasy, and more than a wee bit of magick!

Crafting with Nature: Simple Creations Using Things You Grow or Gather

Author: Amy Renea

Publisher: Page Street Publishing Co.

If, like me, you are one of those people who always seem to come home from being outdoors with your pockets overflowing with found wild treasures, or who delights in growing plants and herbs to use you in your handmade creations, then this book is sure to strike a chord with you.

Crafting with Nature guides readers through 58 detailed tutorials and 44 quick-and-easy inspiration ideas, all of which utilize found or grown natural products to create a wide array of crafts that are every bit as practical and fun to make as they are beautiful.

Why not take a walk this Beltane, or pop out to your garden, and see what kinds of wildcrafted treasures you can find to make some of the projects in Crafting with Nature?

Cross Stitch for the Earth: 20 Designs to Cherish

Author: Emma Congdon

Publisher: David & Charles

As the (Western Hemisphere) sabbat that falls closest to Earth Day, Beltane is a superb occasion to marry witchery and Paganism all the more with subjects pertaining to the health, preservation, conservation, and future of our planet.

If you’re a fellow cross stitcher, one way you may wish to honour Mother Nature is with your stitchery.

While a cross stitch design is rather unlikely to save the planet unto itself, the important themes and messages conveyed in the 20 different charts housed in Cross Stitch for the Earth are beautiful, poignant reminders of just how vital it is that we act as responsible, loving stewards of our one and only planet.

Fairies: A Guide to the Celtic Fair Folk

Author: Morgan Daimler

Publisher: Moon Books

While, by no means, exclusive to the Emerald Isle, it’s safe to say that Ireland has one of the one of the richest histories in the world when it comes to faeries (fairies).

In Fairies: A Guide to the Celtic Fair Folk, author Morgan Daimler delves deep into the complex relationship between fairies and humans throughout the history of Celtic culture, while also exploring who these otherworldly beings are and how we can actively engage with them in the modern era.

In my opinion, few books are better suited to Beltane than this title, which combines Celtic history and fairies – two points with far-reaching ties to May 1^st – together in one thoroughly engaging read.

(If the subject of fairies resonates with you, I highly recommend checking A New Dictionary of Fairies: A 21^st Century Exploration of Celtic and Related Western European Fairies by the same author.)

Living the Faery Life: A Guide to Connecting with the Magic, Power and Joy of the Enchanted Realm

Author: Kac Young, PhD

Publisher: Mango Media

One of the most recent books on faery magick and spirituality to be released, Living the Faery Life is an enchanting, informative look at the world of the fae as approached through an array of different lenses, such as Paganism, Wicca, and even that of non-believers in faeries.

Many who do believe in the fae, or wish to honour the spiritual significance of the archetypes and history they represent, chose to incorporate working with these magickal beings into Beltane rituals, offerings, alters, spellwork and so forth.

 As such, a book on Faery Magic is an especially apt read as we head into the beating heart of spring and all the wonderous things – both seen and unseen – that it houses.

Nature Art Workshop: Tips, Techniques, and Step-by-Step Projects for Creating Nature Inspired Art

Authors: Allison Hetzell, Mikko Sumulong, Katie Brooks, and Sarah Lorraine Edwards

Publisher: Walter Foster Publishing

In Nature Art Workshop, four wonderfully talented artists show readers how to prepare and create a wide range of hands-on craft projects featuring manmade and natural components.

Amongst the projects in this gorgeous book, one finds Beltane perfect ideas such as a fresh floral crown and flower-adorned candles, as well as how to paint everything from stones to leaves, feathers to shells.

Many of these projects are not only a great fit for Beltane and the other sabbats (and esbats), but for use on one’s altars and in various magickal workings as well.

100 Things to See in the Night Sky: From Plants to Satellites to Meteors and Constellations, Your Guide to Stargazing

Author: Dean Regas

Publisher: Adams Media

As the weather warms up again and nighttime temperatures are apt to be a lot more bearable, venturing outside to explore the evening sky can be an enjoyable and meaningful way to celebrate both Beltane and springtime as a whole.

If you’re keen to search the heavens for exciting new (to you) celestial discoveries, or to better identify what you spy while gazing upwards, 100 Things to See in the Night Sky is here to help.

This terrific field guide provides information on objects – both natural and manmade – that you can see in the sky at night, with or without a telescope. As some stargazing guides are geared towards being used with a telescope, it is a welcome treat to find that many of the entries in this book can be spotted without any special equipment being needed.

Rupert’s Tale: The Wheel of the Year – Beltane, Litha, Lammas, and Mabon

Author: Kyrja

Publisher: Schiffer

In this sweet, beautifully illustrated children’s book, a curious little bunny named Rupert sets out to learn why some people are gathering in the woods where he lives to celebrate at certain times of the year. As he does so, Rupert encounters woodland creatures and fairies who help to teach him about The Wheel of the Year.

Rupert’s Tale is a charming book about the sabbats that comprise warmer months and which serves as an excellent introduction (or further connection to) the sabbats for youngsters. Rest assured though, that its lovely premise, delightful illustrations, and Pagan message will appeal to plenty of adults as well.

The Perfect Afternoon Tea Recipe Book: More than 200 Classic Recipes for Every Kind of Traditional Teatime Treat

Authors: Anthony Wild and Carol Pastor

Publisher: Lorenz Books

It could arguably be said no other (non-alcoholic) drink is more closely linked to modern-day witchery than tea. Whether in true tea or tisane form, we witchy souls often gravitate towards teas and many enjoy making their own magickal blends from scratch or further enhance store-bought options.

Couple that point with the return of balmy weather, which often calls for lighter fare than the (sometimes) rich, heavy meals of the colder months, and one cannot help but find themselves in the mood for a tea party.

Now granted, during these challenging ongoing pandemic times, tea parties with lengthy guest lists may not be feasible, but a party can be any size – one person very much included.

Whether with a few loved ones, on your own, or for a much larger group, holding a tea party – or simply treating yourself to a traditional afternoon teatime spread – can be a great joy and a marvellous excuse to indulge in some extra special culinary delights.

If you are on the prowl for an excellent selection of teatime perfect recipes, then the photo-filled gem that is The Perfect Afternoon Tea Recipe Book is sure to be of abundant service and inspiration alike.

The Picnic: Recipes and Inspiration from Basket to Blanket

Authors: Marnie Hanel, Jen Stevenson, and Andrea Slonecker

Publisher: Artisan

A bevy of fantastic watercolour illustrations partners up with a charming and very tasty looking selection of outdoor dining recipes in The Picnic: Recipes and Inspiration from Basket to Blanket.

In addition to scrumptious picnic menu ideas, this book provides readers with handy tip pertaining to planning a successful outdoor get-together, 99 uses for mason jars, lawn game info, and more – all of which are here to help you have some of the best alfresco dining experiences of your life.

Beltane is a superb time to embrace the picnic lifestyle. Why not pack up a basket or hamper of your favourite seasonal eats (imbued with kitchen witchery if so desired) and connect with nature as you toast to the return of picnic season?

In doing so, you may wish to bring an offering or two to leave for the local spirits or fae of the area where you’re picnicking.

(I should note that if – due to the pandemic or any other reason – outdoor picnics are not possible, you can still embrace the picnic spirit with a festive indoor meal instead. Red gingham tablecloth optional, but definitely a fun touch. )

Sing a Song of Seasons: A Nature Poem for Each Day of the Year

Editor: Fiona Waters

Publisher: Nosy Crow

There are certain books that are true works of art, Sing a Song of Seasons is one of them.

I own this book and have read it cover to cover multiple times, savouring and finding inspiration in every line of prose and each enchantingly pretty illustration (by artist Frann Preston-Gannon) that is houses.

This hefty tomb combines serene nature centered illustrations with 366 different poems – one for each day of the year (leap year include) – from some of the most gifted poets to ever pen a verse.

While not a Pagan or witchery book, I am delighted to report that the selection of springtime poems in Sing a Song of Seasons suit Beltane to a tee, just as those centred around the other seasons do for the remaining seven sabbats in The Wheel of the Year.

If you want to treat yourself or someone you care about to an instant treasure of an art-meets-poetry book, this stellar title is an ideal choice.

The Art of Edible Flowers: Recipes and Ideas for Floral Salads, Drinks, Desserts, and More

Author: Rebecca Sullivan

Publisher: Kyle Books

At just 80 pages, The Art of Edible Flowers is not a huge book. However, what it may lack in size, this book more than makes up for via the gorgeous photos and diverse, creative edible flower recipes that it contains.

Happily, gardens are often out in full bloom at Beltane and many grocery stores, health food stores, and specialty food stores now sell a selection of edible flowers (if you cannot find any in your area, try contacting a local florist to see if they sell food-grade flowers or know where you can source some from).

With recipes such as Jasmine and Green Tea Ice Cream (yum!) and Artichoke Flower with Borage Butter, this beautiful cookbook is apt to bring out the springtime kitchen witch in all of us!

The Backyard Herbal Apothecary: Effective Medicinal Remedies Using Commonly Found Herbs & Plants

Author: Devon Young

Publisher: Page Street Publishing

From Nitty Gritty Life blog founder Devon Young comes this recently released (2019) look at the diverse and appealing practical world of creating herbal medicinal remedies with common herbs and plants.

These are not rare, exotic, or exceedingly hard to find plants and herbs, but rather ones that can often either be grown at home and/or readily sourced in some natural settings.

Herbal medicine is the original medicine, and it is no surprise that as more and more people embrace traditional approaches to living and healing, we have seen a surge in the popularity of herbalism as of late.

If you’re looking to deepen your knowledge on the subject or widen your repertoire of herbal medicines this spring (or anytime!), then The Backyard Herbal Apothecary is here to help you do the job.

The Book of Candle Magic: Candle Spell Secrets to Change Your Life

Author: Madame Pamita

Publisher: Llewellyn

One of the most prevalent traditions and continuing themes of Beltane is that of light, sunshine, and fire, each of which celebrates the life-giving and sustaining blessing that is the returning spring/summer sunshine (and the harvest season it will ultimately help to bring into being).

As such, Beltane is an especially awesome time to work candle magick.

Enter, The Book of Candle Magic, a 2020 release that is teeming with candle magick related advice and tutorials, including how to make your own candles, how to perform candle readings, and various other ways you can weave candles into your magickal practices.

Whether at Beltane or any other point in the year, candle magick is one the most accessible and (I would personally argue) effective ways forms of witchcraft. As such, it certainly does not hurt to have a great body of knowledge on the subject like this book on hand when performing candle workings.

The Hidden Life of Trees: The Illustrated Edition

Author: Peter Wohlleben

Publisher: Greystone Books

This book is the abridged, photo-filled edition of author Peter Wohlleben’s beloved bestseller, The Hidden Life of Trees.

In The Hidden Life of Trees: The Illustrated Edition, readers are treated to some of this modern science writing classic’s highlights, along with a dreamily gorgeous selection of nature photographs that highlight Wohlleben’s desire to showcase the importance, majesty, interconnected relationships between, and diversity of, trees all the more.

With nature springing to life again, Beltane (and May in general) is an excellent time to not only connect with trees in person, but to deepen our knowledge surrounding these indespensible natural entities that help to sustain life on this planet as we know it.

The New Wildcrafted Cuisine: Exploring the Exotic Gastronomy of Local Terroir

Author: Pascal Baudar

Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing

While humans have been trading and bartering with foodstuffs for many thousands of years now, originally, everything we ate as a species was either gathered, caught, or hunted for locally.

The sabbats are an especially well-suited time to look to this important aspect of our collective past and to connect all the more with the foods of our own immediate area.

In The New Wildcrafted Cuisine, wild food researcher Pascal Baudar uses the state of California, where he resides, to highlight a multitude of recipes featuring foods that are indigenous to this area of the world. In doing so, he inspires readers to look to their own backyards (perhaps quite literally in some cases) so as to see what foods and plants grown in their region can likewise be utilized and savoured throughout the year.

The Reason for Flowers: Their History, Culture, Biology, and How They Change Our Lives

Author: Stephen Buchmann

Publisher: Scribner

In the Northern Hemisphere, flowers and Beltane go hand-in-hand in many areas.

Thousands upon thousands of different flowers and flowering plants exist throughout the world. They have an omnipresent role in many of our lives and have served as everything from creative muse to healing medicine for humanity since time immemorial.

However, despite this fact, there is much we do not yet know or fully understand about how flowers function in nature, nor the complete extent to which life on this planet relies on them.

In The Reason for Flowers, pollination ecologist Stephen Buchmann takes on an intriguing, fact filled journey though the world of flowers and some of the many diverse ways that humans have long utilized these crucial natural treasures.

This book is just the ticket if you love flowers, are a gardener, work with flowers in a magickal setting, or simply enjoy a fascinating science-based read.

The Sacred Herbs of Spring: Magical, Healing, and Edible Plants to Celebrate Beltaine

Author: Ellen Evert Hopman

Publisher: Destiny Books

From the author of the much adored The Sacred Herbs of Samhain, comes the equally terrific book, The Sacred Herbs of Spring.

In this title, Ellen Evert Hopman explores not only the subject of Beltane (Beltaine) itself, but also details over 90 different plants and trees that can be harvest and utilized for magickal purposes at Beltane.

As well, readers are treated to instructions on how to perform various rituals that honour the traditional gods and goddesses of spring, in addition to information pertaining to springtime herbs that are useful for everything from working with faeries and elves to embarking on (hedgeriding) journeys to the Otherworld.

The Secret World of Weather: How to Read Signs in Every Cloud, Breeze, Hill, Street, Plant, Animal, and Dewdrop

Author: Tristan Gooley

Publisher: The Experiment

These days, if we want to know what sort of mood the weather is likely to be in, many of us turn to an app on our phone or flip on the Weather Network.

Yet, for nearly all of human history, the weather was read, understood, forecasted, and worked with via traditional means and methods involving the natural landscape that people lived. Approaches to, and knowledge of, the weather were passed down generationally and/or within communities and were often vital to the survival of humans, animals, and crops alike.

If you’ve ever had a hankering to better learn how to interpret and understand the weather without the aid of fancy modern devices, then The Secret World of Weather is for you.

Given the often precarious nature of the weather in mid-spring (sunny one moment, torrential rain the next, windy a few minutes later… ), Beltane is a fantastic time to hone your weather reading abilities – as well as to work weather magick.

This book doesn’t focus on the latter, but it will certainly help you with the former and in the process you will likely be able to apply what you learn about reading nature’s signs to help you in your magickal weather workings.

The Skillful Forger: Essential Techniques for Responsible Foraging and Making the Most of Your Wild Edibles

Author: Leda Meredith

Publisher: Roost Books

As the natural world bursts forth with a slew of diverse and often highly delicious crops once more, you may be feeling the urge to forage.

Whether you’re new to this ancient art or have been foraging with the best of them for quite some time already, Leda Meredith’s excellent book, The Skillful Forger, is here to inform and inspire you as you venture forth to gather some of nature’s bounty for your own table (or other uses).

Beyond serving merely as a foraging identification guide, this book places an emphasis on the importance of practicing sustainable harvesting techniques, while also providing advice on how to gather, preserve, and prepare the foraged foods that you collect.

Whether for kitchen witchery, herbology, spellwork, or simply to feed yourself and your loved ones, foraging (of which I am a long-time practitioner myself) can be a beneficial, meaningful, practical, and spiritually rewarding activity.

What It’s Like to Be a Bird: What Birds Are Doing and Why – From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing

Author: David Allen Sibley

Publisher: Random House of Canada

In this delightful exploration of the life and inner workings of the bird kingdom, renowned avian expert David Allen Sibley answers some of the most frequently asked questions about the bird kingdom, covering more than two hundred species in the process.

Not only will you find a plethora of information about birds in What It’s Like to Be a Bird, but you’ll also be treated over 330 different bird illustrations by the author himself.

The natural world is alive and buzzing at Beltane, with birds being one of the most commonly seen and heard animals in our environments. Why not celebrate our winged friends all the more this spring by reading up on what it’s like to live the life of a bird?

Wild Magic: Celtic Folk Traditions for the Solitary Practitioner

Author: Danu Forest

Publisher: Llewellyn

Whether you practice Celtic magick, are yearning to do so, or simply wish to expand your knowledge on the subject, Wild Magic: Celtic Folk Traditions for the Solitary Practitioner is the book for you.

A detailed, fascinating title, this book guides readers on way to approach magick and witchery from a traditional Celtic perspective, delving into such areas as Celtic faerie faith, deepening your connection to the divine in nature, ancestor work, and connecting with the spirits of the land (aka, the genius loci).

In addition, Wild Magic explores areas such as ley lines and dragon lines, spirit paths, spellwork, wildcrafting, and no shortage of folk traditions from Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

As a book about Celtic magick, this informative and enchanting title is an ideal reading choice for the traditional Gaelic festival of Beltane.  

WitchCraft Cocktails: 70 Seasonal Drinks Infused with Magic and Ritual

Author: Julia Halina Hadas

Publisher: Adams Media

If you enjoy a good tipple and are keen to weave some potent kitchen witchery into your mixed drinks, then WitchCraft Cocktails – which is bursting with breathtaking food photography – might be just the ticket.

Each of the sabbats is a joyous time in its own right. Arguably, however, some have an inherently lighter and more upbeat note to them.

Beltane leads the pack on that front and is a superb time, if one drinks, to raise a glass to this sacred day – and all the more so if you have imbued your glass with one of the magickal workings laid out in this delightful book.

Joyful Beltane wishes!

Which of these Beltane perfect books leaps out at you?

What are some of your favourite seasonal topics to read about in the spring?

Like many a witchy soul, I lap up books like it’s going out of style and know that I am far from alone on that front. Scores of Pagans, Wiccans, and witches – as well as countless other people around the globe – love reading and expanding their knowledge on an array of different subjects.

I hope that the selection of books highlighted in this post will introduce you to some new titles and give you plenty of inspiration and enjoyment both for Beltane 2021 and many future Maydays to come!

Wishing you a safe, serene, sunny, and splendidly blessed Beltane season, dear friends!

PS: If you are interested in having this list turn into the first in an ongoing series of posts devoted to books that are a great match for each of the eight different Pagan sabbats, please let me know in the comment section below.

The post 25 Books That Are Wonderfully Well-Suited to Beltane appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

In the fifteen months since this blog began, I have had the pleasure of reviewing several books on an array of Pagan, witchy, wellness, and history related topics.

Writing each of those posts and sharing my thoughts on various titles with all of you has been a wonderful joy.

However, no book review post shared here thus far has been quite as meaningful, happy, or exciting an experience as this entry.

The Modern Witch’s Guide to Magickal Self-Care was penned by my dear friend and fellow witch, Tenae Stewart.

I had been reading Tenae’s blog (The Witch of Lupine Hollow) for quite some when our paths first directly crossed on Instagram a few years ago.

Aside from being passionate witches with a desire to support others in their own magickal journeys, Tenae and I quickly discovered that we had much in common (including, under different circumstances, both losing homes in devastating fires).

A friendship struck up quickly and for a time, I had the pleasure and honour of being a guest writer for Tenae’s site.

As Tenae’s focus shifted somewhat online, that position ceased organically. Happily, our friendship only continued to flourish and when Tenae shared with me that she would be writing her first book, I was elated for (and very proud of) her.

Released in the autumn of 2020, Tenae’s inaugural book is a beautiful, insightful, and highly informative journey into the connections and overlap inherent to the realms of self-care and witchery/spirituality/magick.

Self-care is a topic that is very near and dear to Tenae’s heart and which she had been writing about online for some time prior to this book’s release.

To my mind, she was a truly natural fit for a book like this. The end result (which I will review here before sharing ten interview questions that I recently asked to Tenae) is a by far one of the most helpful and engaging on the market today about this important area of wellness.

Book Specs:

Name: The Modern Witch’s Guide to Magickal Self-Care: 36 Sustainable Rituals for Nourishing Your Mind, Body, and Intuition

Author: Tenae Stewart

Page count: 240

Publisher: Skyhorse

Binding: Hardcover

A welcoming, knowledgeable exploration of Magickal Self-Care

Before I hop into discussing The Modern Witch’s Guide to Magickal Self-Care, I want to emphatically state that my friendship with Tenae did not in any way influence my review or the rating I assigned to this book.

Nor did the fact that I had the honour of being asked to read this book before it went to print and, in turn, to pen one of the review statements provided on the back of The Modern Witch’s Guide to Magickal Self-Care.

Rest assured that no matter if someone is a total stranger, a close friend, or anywhere in between, I will always provide wholly unbiased and honest reviews.

One of the first thoughts that struck me when I finished reading The Modern Witch’s Guide to Magickal Self-Care was how it was hard to believe that this title is “just” 240 pages long.

Let me be clear, I am saying that as a very positive thing.

This book, which is divided into ten different chapters, is solidly packed with insight, guidance, support, journaling prompts (such as those pictured below), and a vast array of knowledge pertaining to spirituality and self-care.

While Tenae is a fellow witch and this book has definite witchy/Pagan currents running throughout its whole. However, I did not feel that it was glaringly or overpoweringly witchy to the point of not being of potential interest and benefit to those who may be more broadly spiritual or who beliefs lie elsewhere.

In The Modern Witch’s Guide to Magickal Self-Care, Tenae guides readers through some of the steps they may wish to take as they start (or deepen) their self-care practice.

Rituals and spellwork, astrology, divination, nature (including the phases of the moon), The Wheel of the Year, and kitchen witchery are amongst suggested ways to embrace self-care in your daily life.

The magickal self-care methods set forth in this book are not overly complex or challenging. They have a friendly, approachable, down-to-earth quality that makes them both accessible and appealing.

Tenae encourages readers to take inspiration, if so desired, from her suggestions, but encourages us to create our own unique and highly meaningful spiritual self-care practices.

And not only that, but she acknowledges that life is not always sunshine and roses and that, sometimes, it can be downright difficult (if not impossible) to make self-care and/or our spirituality the number one priority in our life.

This is something I feel witchcraft/Pagan authors sometimes fail to address in their books, which can then have a tendency to make it seem as though most witches spend unending amounts of time fully immersed in the witchiest of activities ever invented, rarely if ever putting the wand and herb jars down.

In reality, this simply is not true for most folks. By addressing the fact that we will have off days, down times, rough patches, and hardships to handle in life our lives, Tenae’s suggestions and guidance become all the more grounded in both real-world flexibility and practicality.  

Her tone is wise and empathetic, understanding and supportive. At times Tenae shares elements of her own life and spiritual path to highlight the self-care approaches she lays out.

Much as with the gorgeous colour photos of Tenae herself that are peppered throughout this book, so too are these intimate connections with the author a welcome and inspiring element of The Modern Witch’s Guide to Self-Care.

How The Modern Witch’s Guide to Magickal Self-Care rates with me

Self-care is something that I believe in deeply and happily promote whenever possible.

I am no stranger to books on self-care, be they of the magickal/witchy or more mainstream variety and have read quite a few titles in this field over the years.

The Modern Witch’s Guide to Magickal Self-Care stands out amongst the pack.

Approachable and teeming with diverse, inspiring, genuinely useful ideas to help you build your magickal self-care practice, this book stepped up to the plate and hit a home run straight out of the ballpark.

If self-care as it pertains to your spirituality, or really, even just in general, is something that you make a point of focusing on or want to become better-aquainted with, I highly recommend picking up a copy of The Modern Witch’s Guide to Magickal Self-Care.

I’ve read this book three times already, taking Tenae’s well-informed insight and handy suggestions to heart each time I connect with this title, and am sure I will continue to revisit The Modern Witch’s Guide to Magickal Self-Care often in the months and years to come.

Working on a scale of 1 – 5, with five being the highest possible rating, I would give The Modern Witch’s Guide to Magickal Self-Care 5 stars out of 5.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Interview with witchy author, spiritual coach, and self-care expert Tenae Stewart

Recently, I posed ten interview questions pertaining to the topics covered in The Modern Witch’s Guide to Magickal Self-Care with Tenae.

Her answers, much like her book itself, abound with terrific insight and attainability and drive home all the more why Tenae is one of modern witchcraft’s brightest leading lights.

In your own words, could you please describe who you are, a bit about the path that led you to witchery, what areas of witchery/Paganism you are currently focused on, and the witchcraft-related world that you’re built online?

My name is Tenae Stewart and I’m a practicing cottage witch, an astrologer, a spiritual coach, and a published author.

I started practicing witchcraft about ten years ago, although I had been interested and read a lot about it before that. My magick has always been very grounded in the seasons and moon phases, but as a cottage witch, the center of my practice is my home, sanctuary, and sacred space.

Creating spaces that feel magickal, that honor the seasons, and that express who I am is a cornerstone of my witchcraft and self-care practices.

I also work with astrology, tea and herbalism, oracle cards, spirit guides, and a few other modalities of magick and healing. 

In my work, I help modern witches embody simplicity in their magick, rituals and self-care practices so they can create rituals that fit effortlessly into their real, daily lives. I really believe that when we can simplify our practices and focus on what is most fulfilling to us, that we can have the magickal experiences all the time that many of us desire – and that we deserve.

Time, space, and energy are major obstacles to many witches who wish they could practice more consistently and confidently. I help them find the time and space within their real lives to have that, without sacrificing any of their obligations.

I work with modern witches on many different aspects of their practices but the core of what I do is focused on the seasons, moon phases, and astrology, as well as intuitive practices like dream work and divination.

When did you really start to make self-care a key component of your life and magickal journey? 

I think that it always was, although I didn’t really have those words to describe it until the past few years. But the key moment was after I lost my home in a wildfire in late 2015.

I had actually not been practicing witchcraft for about two years at that time, as I had given it up when I transferred to university, thinking I no longer had the time or energy to practice, (something I hear so often from my clients and community).

But after the fire I realized that I really needed that spiritual anchor once more and that I needed a soft, supportive, nourishing practice to carry me through the grief and trauma I was navigating at that time. That was when I recommitted to my path, reclaimed my inner witch, and started on the path that led me to doing this professionally.

To your mind, what are the core pillars of a successful self-care practice? 

I work with five essential core pillars of a magickal self-care practice, what I call the Pillars of Divinity because they incorporate elements of both the divine masculine and divine feminine. These pillars are the mind, body, intuition, nature, and devotion and they’re designed to help us create self-care practices that are holistic and that nurture all aspects of ourselves.

A well-rounded practice includes elements that nourish our mind and mental health as well as our physical body, which are both sometimes left out of spiritual practices. Simultaneously, it also includes practices that help us connect with our intuition, (which might be divination, dream work, meditation, etc), and that help us connect with nature through the seasons, herbalism, getting outside, etc.

Finally, one of the most important elements is devotion which is where we reflect on what matters most to us in life and in our spirituality and then be sure we are taking regular, intentional action on those things. This might be the worship of a deity, which is what a lot of people think of when they hear devotion, but it might also be health, self-love, activism, a relationship, or anything else that really lights you up. 

I also believe that shadow work is an essential component of both magick and self-care and always recommend witches start there when beginning a new practice or ritual!

Astrology is very near and dear to your heart, and it figures extensively throughout your book. Is there anything pertaining to self-care/self-love and astrology that you’d like to share here, which did not appear in the book?

I did touch on this in the book but it’s always worth emphasizing – one of the most important parts of your chart for understanding your self-care needs is the moon.

Your sun sign is the sign you probably know easily off the top of your head and it is an important part of who you are – in fact, it’s the source of your joy and that makes it an important part of your self-care too. But the moon represents your inner self, the part of you that you don’t always share with others and that can feel very personal and private.

Understanding the sign and house that your moon activates will help you create a self-care practice that is deeply nourishing, not just surface level. 

Why do you think that some people have an aversion to the concept of self-care? Do you feel that, as you touched on in the book, a modern sort of “bubble bath” mindset that the media has perpetuated in regard to self-care is part of the reason why self-care is off-putting or seen as too “woo-wooish” to some folks?

I actually think that the “bubble bath” mindset has made self-care somewhat appealing to the general public but less so in spiritual communities because it seems surface level or inauthentic. Sometimes in the spiritual community, whether that’s specifically witchcraft or more “woo” in general, we have a tendency to think that if it’s not deep, dark shadow work or an outright confrontation of society, that it’s not worth doing.

There has been a big backlash in recent years against the “love and light” folks who have committed some really rampant and harmful spiritual bypassing. And it is true that just taking a bubble bath is not going to solve anything in the larger scheme, nor is it necessarily inherently magickal.

However, I do think that there is a balance to be struck – as long as we are also doing the shadow work and taking the bigger actions, then pampering our bodies and finding truly deep relaxation are going to support those larger goals as well. 

In your book, you often address those who are newer to self-care and/or may be struggling on this front (and/or with their spirituality in general). This is awesome, of course, and will be of help to many people. What advice or suggestions would you give, however, to someone who is a self-care veteran and who is presently doing great from a spiritual standpoint? 

This is a great question! I think that we have a tendency as self-care veterans or as advanced practitioners of witchcraft to think that we always need to be learning and growing and, of course, there is some truth to that.

It’s important to always be learning new things and not to get stagnant. And yet, I think there has been a bit of a capitalist infiltration of our thought process in this way, because if things are going great, we don’t always know how to believe or accept that. We both doubt ourselves and our own fulfillment and think we always need to be productive.

I know that when my rituals have been at a place where I’m being super consistent with them and they feel really inspiring, sometimes I don’t really know what to do with myself because I think I need to be always figuring something out.

So for those who are veterans and who do feel great about their spiritual and/or self-care practices, I would encourage you to really revel in it – relax into the peace instead of trying to fight it. There will always be time to shift and learn something new in the future!

While your book has not been out for very long yet, a tremendous amount has changed in the world since its publication. If you were writing the book today, in the midst of the pandemic, would have changed anything or included information that isn’t present in this edition? 

Yes, I finished the manuscript just a few weeks before the pandemic lockdowns began in my area, so the book really is not informed by the current state of the world. Although, I do think the timing of its release could not have been more serendipitous with so many people in need of more self-care and mental and emotional support than ever.

I don’t think I would have changed anything, per se, but if I were writing the book now, I would certainly speak to the added challenges of shared spaces, isolation, and how those things can shape and influence both our need for and ability to practice self-care. 

And to that end, what advice would you give to fellow witches and spiritually focused individuals in general as we continue to face this ongoing global challenge? 

The biggest thing is just that we need to continue to be gentle with ourselves, to remember that we are living in unprecedented times, as much as we are all a bit sick of hearing that.

Our self-care is extra important right now but sometimes it’s also self-care to skip your rituals for a week and to just forgive yourself for needing that time and space. 

Where do you see the field, so to speak, of self-care going in the next five years? What about in twenty-five years from now?

I think we’re going to continue to see a lot of growth and focus on self-care, especially as we begin to emerge from the pandemic, with all the conversations going on right now about maybe continuing to work remotely and the changing landscape of work and healthcare.

I think we’ll see more and more intimate opportunities to connect with one another and to nurture ourselves socially, as we’ve all seen how detrimental isolation can be, even when it’s absolutely necessary.

Twenty-five years from now… if we continue on the trajectory of the last five years, I think we could see self-care, spirituality, and intuitive work taking the center stage alongside traditional mental and physical healthcare, especially for women+ and femmes. 

Can you share five simple, effective things with us that most people could do right now to incorporate more self-care into their daily lives?

1. Reflection. We cannot create effective practices unless we know what is currently working for us and what is NOT. 

2. Light a candle. Candlelight adds so much magick and softness to any ritual, no matter how small. 

3. Look up at the moon. An awareness of the cycles of the seasons and the moon phases is an ancient, natural way of tracking our own cycles. Looking up at the moon and noting what phase she’s in is such a powerful way to also check in with yourself. 

4. Track your time. Knowing how long it actually takes you to get ready in the morning or how you can best utilize your lunch break, for example, is so helpful in creating practices that fit into those in-between moments in our lives. 

5. Plan for changes. No one practice is going to be effective forever. Plan to adapt your rituals and practices on at least a seasonal basis, even if they seem perfect right now – things change! 

Thank you very much for sharing your time, insight, and magick with us, Tenae. The spiritual community is blessed to have you and your work in our midst.

If you would like to get to Tenae further or to work with her in a professional capacity, you can connect with her via:

–Website: The Witch of Lupine Hollow

–Podcast: Empowered Modern Witches Show

–Instagram

–Pinterest

–The Empowered Modern Witches Facebook Group

And, as a final and very exciting note to cap off this book review + author interview post with, my heart is once against overflowing with happiness as I share with you that Tenae will be writing a second book.

The Modern Witch’s Guide to Natural Magick is slated for release in the spring of 2022.

Rest assured, dear readers, that you can bank on me – a devoted practitioner of nature magick – being amongst the first in line to read and, hopefully, review this title as well.

I can hardly wait!

Have you read The Modern Witch’s Guide to Magickal Self-Care? How does self-care factor into your spiritual path?

The post Author Interview and Book Review: The Modern Witch’s Guide to Magickal Self-Care by Tenae Stewart appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

In either instance, many of us are doing are best, even if we’re self-isolating, to try and safely spend some time outdoors right now (which may entail doing so solely or primarily on/in our balconies, decks, yards or gardens).

Beyond the immense global challenge of this particular year, the sunny days of spring, summer and early fall are a period the beckons many of us spend all the more time connecting one-on-one with nature.

I like to say, only half-jokingly, that if it wasn’t for the fact that I’m a human mosquito magnet, I could happily set up a tent in the backyard and live out there until the abundant snowfalls of winter returned.

As much as Annie and I might enjoy that, for now I’ll stick to sleeping indoors and spending every possible waking second that I can under the sun, moon and stars while it’s warm enough to do so without risking hypothermia.

No matter the season or how much time I’m able to devote to being outside, nature magick is a key component of my spiritual path – just as it is for many others the world over.

Taking both this point and the beautiful weather of mid-spring into account, today I’m going to be reviewing a title that I have zero qualms calling one of my top five favourite nature magick related books of all-time: Witchcraft into the Wilds by Rachel Patterson.

Book specs

Name: Witchcraft into the Wild

Author: Rachel Patterson

Page count: 227

Publisher: Moon Books

Binding: Softcover

The ideal nature magick book for new, intermediate and advanced magickal practitioners alike

Over the years, there have been a wide array of books published on topics pertaining to green witchcraft, nature-based witchcraft and Paganism, nature magick, wildcrafting, and similar topics.

Some leave much to be desired, others are great, and a handful are nothing shy of stellar. It is into this third camp that I place Witchcraft into the Wilds.

Penned by accomplished Pagan author and well-known kitchen witch Rachel Patterson (who is also an active blogger, both on her own website and over at Pathos as well), Witchcraft into the Wilds is the nature magick book the world might not have asked for, but my goodness, did it need.

There is a time and place for elaborate spellwork and rituals, for in-depth methods and practices and for workings that call for a milelong list of steps and/or materials. I am in no way opposed to such approaches and engage in them periodically myself, particularly when it comes to the sabbats and esbats.

However, I’m a firm advocate for, and believer in, the incredible power and effectiveness of downhome, unfussy, real-world witchery that we can connect with often and make a cornerstone component of our practice.

The more approachable and manageable one finds the magickal activities they do, the more, I’m convinced, you’ll be less inclined to feel like you never have enough time to devote to your path. While also potentially finding you experience a greater degree of desired and effective outcomes from your own magickal undertakings.

And that is a huge part of the reason why I adore Witchcraft into the Wild.

This twenty-six chapter book is awesomely down-to-earth. Each chapter is relatively small and focuses on an extensive assortment of nature-related topics spanning everything from Nature Spirits and Faeries in chapter 7 to Working with the Weather in chapter 18 and Hedge Riding in the final chapter.

Witcraft into the Wilds doesn’t expect you to have every last tool, herb and crystal under the sun or to know wildly specialized and/or archaic information.

It doesn’t ask you to spend 23.5 hours a day feverishly working on complex spells or chide you if you want to take things in your own wonderfully personalized direction.

This book feels like an extremely knowledgeable witchy friend sat down and poured out a lifetime of their learnings about, and experiences with, nature magick to you.

And in a lot of ways, that’s exactly what Witchcraft into the Wilds is.

It’s a compendium of practical information about how to work and live magickally in tune with the natural world brought to you by a witch who not only knows her stuff inside and out, but who actively engages in the kinds of activities she shares with you in this book.

What is Witchcraft into the Wilds about?

As mentioned above, this book is divided into twenty-six chapters spanning 227 pages. Within which, the author’s personable, to-the-point approach leaves you feeling like you’ve taken an advanced course on nature-based witchery.

She leads you through a treasure trove of information, includes various guided meditation activities, and even wraps up each chapter with handy journaling prompts.

For which one could record their journaling in their book of shadows, grimoire, blog, on social media, in a standalone journal, or in a diary devoted to answering the questions Patterson presents.

So what is Witchcraft into the Wilds all about?

This book takes a real-world, hands-on look at a vast array of nature-based witchery and Paganism topics, presenting most in their own standalone chapters or subsections.

This book also takes us back to nature. To the heart and soul of what it can mean to be a practicing witch who actively works with the elements, spirits, and gifts of nature.

It addresses how we can connect all the more with the natural world, and adds in splashes of folklore, spiritual practices from various traditions and cultures, and provides tips on living in harmony with the seasons and the Wheel of the Year.

In addition, it encourages us to seek, find, appreciate and work with the energy, properties, and wisdom that is inherent in the natural world.

And while the author is based in the UK and some of the subjects covered in this book are in turn grounded in the United Kingdom, the degree and extent to which such is the case should not be off-putting to most readers.

I found that they either already applied or could easily be approached so as to apply to the nature-focused witchery that I do here in Canada and feel the same will likely ring true for others around the world as well.

How Witchcraft into the Wilds rates with me

From the moment I first caught wind of this book, which was released in 2018, I placed it in my Amazon.ca cart and patiently waited until purchasing it was possible. I was able to do so in October of that same year and have since read it two times.

There is no doubt in my mind that future cover-to-cover readings will ensue, as will references back to specific topics that Witchcraft into the Wilds addresses.

This was is one of those books that I wish could have gone on for a thousand more pages. The author’s writing is wonderfully knowledgeable without being condescending or pretentious. It is soulful, friendly, and spirited in just the right proportions for my tastes.

Witchcraft into the Wilds is a handy, excellent guide to nature magick and witchery that is both a primer and a more advanced look at this broad subject at the same time.

In reading this book, I never felt my attention waning. I didn’t get bored, skip sections, or feel like I was going through the basic “witchery 101” motions for the umpteenth time (not, that I’m throwing shade on witchery 101 books – I actually think many of them are fab and don’t take issue with the continued proliferation of such in the marketplace).

I was drawn in immediately and lapped up every page, idea, nugget of knowledge, and informative tip with gusto. Nodding both outwardly with my head, and internally within my heart, all the way through as that the author continually encourages us to go back to the roots of nature and the relationship that we have with the outdoors via our spiritual practices.

Personally, I don’t have any issues of note with this excellent, informative guide to nature magick. Rachel Patterson knows her stuff and then some, and her look at wild witchcraft is a welcome addition to the body of literature that exists on this topic.

Indeed, I would happily and confidently place it amongst the upper echelons of offerings not only in that specific field, but in terms of all manner of contemporary books on witchcraft and Paganism point-blank.

Much like the subject matter at its heart, Witchcraft into the Wilds is a refreshing, easily accessible exploration of an area that is a vital backbone in the witchery practices and ways of living that many of us the world over embrace with open arms and nature-loving hearts.

If you have even just the slightest passing interest in natural magick or witchery that puts the focus on the practitioner’s own magickal abilities and connection to the land around them, then this book is for you.

Working on a scale of 1 – 5, with five being the highest possible rating, I would give this book 5 stars out of 5.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

If you’ve read Witchcraft into the Wilds or are interested in this book, please let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this excellent green witchcraft title.

The post Book Review: Witchcraft into the Wilds by Rachel Patterson appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.