The Essential Guide to Aromatherapy & Vibrational Healing

The Essential Guide to Aromatherapy & Vibrational Healing by Margaret Ann Lembo

• Paperback: 360 pages 
  
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (March 8, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738743399
• ISBN-13: 978-0738743394

The blurb ...

This is an A-Z guide to 60 essential oils that also brings together the combination of flower remedies, gemstones essences, and other vibrational elements that can be incorporated for enhanced healing practice.

The beginning chapters outline the history of essential oils and how to use them as well as other elements that can be used in combination with the oils to enhance your practices. These include flower essences, gemstone essences, holy water, divine messengers, chakras, zodiac, planets, numbers, and animals.

From there, 60 essential oils are detailed. For each essential oil she includes Name of Oil; Key Phrase; Botanical Name; Note; Common Method of Extraction; Parts Used; Fragrance; Affirmation; Color; Complementary Flower Essences; Complementary Stones; Chakra(s); About the Plant; Chemical Components; Astrological Sign(s); Planet(s); Number(s); Animal(s); Spiritual Uses; Mental Uses; Emotional Uses; Physical Uses; Therapeutic Properties; Divine Guidance; For Your Safety; Interesting Tidbits.

The final appendices section provides further information on working with each of these vibrational elements (essential oils, flower remedies, gemstones, and other elements). An extensive glossary is also included.

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This book discusses calling upon angels and guides to help you in your life, the seven chakras, zodiac signs, planets, numbers, animals, colors, flowers etc. There is a quick reference to the history of using aromatherapy, and how one can use it to balance their life physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The object is to use the fragrance to help bring forth a memory, thus observing the past in order to move forward in your life. 

For each oil mentioned you get the spiritual uses, mental uses, emotional uses, and physical uses. 

A fruitful example is: The use of Holly to release fears of jealousy as well as your jealousy of others. Honeysuckle to observe the past and use the memories to move forward. Larch to amplify self-confidence and courage. Walnut for change and integration. Willow to forgive and forget past injuries.

The other stuff might prove favorable to someone else, but to me it's just 'fluffy bunny.'

The idea of this book is an interesting concept. I do however think that other books available may be much more handy in my opinion. This one is fluffy and a little too 'new age' for me.  

This book was given as an advanced copy to review by NetGalley, my review is written with honesty and without any ties to the author. I did not receive any monetary gain from doing so.

Traditional Witchcraft For Urban Living

Traditional Witchcraft For Urban Living by Melusine Draco

• Paperback: 152 pages  
  
• Publisher: Moon Books (February 16, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1846949785

The Blurb ...
For the witch whose career confines them to an urban environment, regular Craft practice may often seem like a futile gesture, especially if home is a small, gardenless-flat. Even the suburbs can be magically incapacitating, if there is constant noise from traffic and neighbours. People work long hour without having the opportunity to notice the subtle changing of the seasons. Weekends are a constant battle with family, domestic chores and socialising. It’s no wonder that the urban witch has little time left for magical and spiritual development.Traditional Witchcraft for Urban Living deals with the constant barrage of psychic problems that confront the urban witch on a daily basis. Based on the teachings of a traditional Craft background, the author successfully manages to blend the Old Ways with practical contemporary practice. This book is part of the Traditional Witchcraft Series.

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When I sought this book out I was drawn to it first by a blog I visited while researching Traditional Witchcraft topics. I can't for the life of me remember which blog it was though. But anyhow, I was hoping for something different. This book was just okay for me. Here is why ...

This book can be summed up with a history lessons in Saxon / Norman life, and how Christians took their sacred spaces and instead of destroying them, they put relics of their own God in them so that it wouldn't be so hard for the Pagan to convert themselves to Christianity. The same goes for the celebrations to bring in the changes in seasons; all of which were given Christian names so that the Pagans could celebrate their holidays at the same time Christians did until the old ways were so far back in history that they were obsolete. I knew all this, and really felt disappointed that 65% of the book was rehashing this instead of giving the information that I thought it was going to, which is ways to bring traditional witchcraft into city living and ways that one can put this into daily 'practice.' 

The truth is, there was very little 'practice' advice in this book. The author basically tells you to cast a circle, grow herbs on your balcony, sit in an old church to meditate, read tarot cards, and collect old poetry so that you can conjure better spells with the use of rhyme and rhythm. Also, if you live outside of the UK, you won't fully engage with the whole text because you will be bored listening to her talk about locations of churches and such. 

By the end of the book she makes some interesting statements about how others practice the craft and how meditating for hours only to end with a "feel good factor" basically isn't the craft and you are just kidding yourself. Even though I believe that magic is much more complex than that, she didn't mince her words any. So this might be offensive to some readers. She goes on to say that experienced witches don't work at the textbook level, and they learn to sense things much differently than seeing rainbows and unicorns. (well, I did put my own words there in summery, but this is what was meant to be heard). I get all this, because if I didn't I wouldn't be seeking traditional witchcraft books  in the first place. I get it. Stores are full of fluffy new age crap -- well duh. So tell me more about the stuff that isn't crap.

I guess I was hoping for more traditional ritual ideas because I find it difficult to bring the craft into my daily life. So far the only way I have found it possible has been through cooking. But hey, onto the next book, shall we?

I won't buy another of the author's book because of the yawning factor, but also because it is full of repetitive material, and typos. There is very little that is useful here. She talks to you throughout the text as if you are a beginner and then other times as if you already know everything. I hope someone comes out with some good books on this subject sooner, rather than later, but I have my doubts. 

365 Journal Writing Ideas

365 Journal Writing Ideas by Rossi Fox

• Paperback: 250 pages  
  
• Publisher: Rossi Fox; 1 edition (August 12, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0957679300
• ISBN-13: 978-0957679306

Follow the undated daily journal writing prompts & weekly actions in this book to fill your journal to the point of bursting. Filled with memories, self-reflection, ideas, inspiration, creativity, experiences, achievements, gratitude, short stories, photographs, goals and direction. Unlock the potential of your journal and enjoy some time for yourself.

Journal Writing Tips & Tricks.
Learn how to beat the blank page to start your journal writing practice, how to make the time to write, how to organize your journal/diary, find ideas on how to add visual interest to your journal, discover a collection of alternative journal prompts, a photography challenge checklist, and more.

365 Journaling Prompts & Questions.
Enjoy a years-long guided journal writing course for self exploration through daily writing prompts. To help you use your journal/diary as a place to remember where you have been (memoir), appreciate where you are now (gratitude) and decide on where you are going (goals). Not only helping you gain clarity, closure and purpose but also resulting in your very own mini memoir or life journal keepsake.

Mixed in amongst the reflective journal writing questions are creative writing prompts, light hearted questions and short story writing idea generator tables to help get your creative writing juices flowing and to have some fun with your journal.

52 Weekly Actions.
Feel like you are stuck in a bit of a rut? Looking to boost your self confidence by expanding your comfort zone? Or do you want some new experiences to write about? Along with your trusty journal, complete one action each week over the 365 days to make the next 52 weeks of your life just that little bit more interesting. For example:

Week 30 - Send someone a gift without them knowing it is from you. Report back to journal.

***BONUS***Over 400 Quotes.
A quote collection of over 400 quotes and proverbs ordered by subject, from adventure to writing. To be used as an extra source of inspiration, wisdom and starting points for your journaling practice. After all, who doesn't love a quote collection?

Is This Journal Writing Book For You?
Are you intimidated by the blank page?
Is your journal writing becoming repetitive?
Are you looking to find some direction and start setting goals?
Are you a writer or blogger who wants to knock the wind out of writer's block?
Have you found it difficult maintaining a journal writing practice?
Do you want to create a record of your life in a life journal?
Are you looking for a creative outlet?
Do you enjoy creative and short story writing?
Do you feel a need to clear out and process some mental clutter?
Have you built up a collection of blank journals because you are scared of ruining them?
Have you googled ‘how to write a journal?’ or ‘how to write a diary?’ but still don’t know where to start?

If so, this book is for you.

NOTE: The journal prompts & actions in this book are not dated so you can start from journaling prompt No.1 & weekly action No.1 at any point in the year. You can also pick and choose the prompts at random if you are looking for an occasional resource to help beat writer's block. So are you ready? Let's get journaling...

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There are mixed reviews on this book, and I bought the kindle version of it to help me get past my fear of a blank page and learn to write daily. I haven't used the prompts yet, but I feel they will be useful. The book does what it says it will do, but like others have said, you can find these online for free with a little effort. I just didn't want to put in the effort. I preferred getting the book and having everything available without research. I do however feel that the book is a little clunky, and could have been organized and written better. There is a page per prompt which will make the book longer when printed. I think they could have been listed and condensed onto fewer pages and this would work just as well, if not better. I wouldn't pay very much for this book because it really isn't worth it, in my opinion. There are others out there much better. Nothing new here. It was thrown together to make a quick dollar. 

Samhain: Rituals, Recipes & Lore

Samhain: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for Halloween 
(Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials) by Diana Rajchel    

• Series: Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials (Book 6)
• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (September 8, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738742163
• ISBN-13: 978-0738742168

Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials series explores the old and new ways of celebrating the seasonal rites that are the cornerstones in the witch's year.

A well-rounded introduction to Samhain, this attractive book features rituals, recipes, lore, and correspondences. It includes hands-on information for modern celebrations, spells and divination, recipes and crafts, invocations and prayers, and more!

Samhain—also known as Halloween—is the final spoke in the wheel of the year. At this time, the harvest has finished and the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest. This guide shows you how to practice the serious work of divination and honoring the dead along with the more light-hearted activities of Halloween.

The book starts off talking about the wheel of the year, and then goes into, what I find most interesting, the history of Samhain. It talks about traditions throughout many different regions of the world; which are not limited to, but include: Ireland, Scotland, England, Canada and the United States. I am a big history lover, so this was a joy to read. I knew some of the traditions and lore, but not all of them. So interesting!

Then of course the book goes into how Samhain is celebrated now, touching base with the different religions. The tone keeping from making any one religion feeling awkward or left out. Although changed to adapt modern times, it is nice to see that not all from the past has been lost.

There are plenty of recipes in the book to try, and rituals to perform whether alone, or with others. This was my first book that I have read which centers around just one holiday. This is a unique series of books, and I love the covers. At first I was hesitant because I didn't think that Samhain could fill up an entire book its self, but I was wrong.

If you are a Pagan, and follow a Pagan path, I would recommend this book to you. For others, probably not, unless you are interested in the history of Pagan traditions. It's a good reference book to have on your bookshelf. 

Although this book was given as a copy to review by NetGalley, my review is written with honesty and without any ties to the author herself. I did not receive any monetary gain from doing so.

The Wise Woman's Journal

The Wise Woman's Journal 

• Print Length: 148 pages
• Publisher: Build Your Own Reality (August 31, 2014)   
  
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00N7EM7HU
• 
  

This little book was very interesting. I picked it up for a quick look at it being that it is available in kindle unlimited for free. I was more curious than anything. I read a lot of pagan books. This one pleasantly surprised me.

In the beginning it has an explanation of different pagan practices, and how rituals are performed. There are basic correspondences that you use for making incense, oils and candle magick. It tells you how to dedicate yourself to a deity and ask them to help you, how to set up an altar to spend time with them, recipes for basic incense & oils that can be used in all rituals. How to bless any space and make it ready for spiritual use. Then after all that, you get a month's worth of journaling prompts and meditation. If you are looking to incorporate your pagan beliefs into each and everyday, this will be helpful for you. If you are just starting out, this will save you a lot of research. Thumbs up.