Back from Summer Vacation…
Time is zooming by! Here at Villa Westwyk, September arrived loud and proud, leaning hard into those pumpkin-spice vibes. She’s showing her burnt umber, golds, oranges, and deep soil browns already. Her cat walk here at Villa Westwyk is certainly bringing a twist on a classic autumnal debut. The daylight hours are so short now. Yet, I’m ready for not having to be out at the barn at 0530 hrs. But it does mean that I’m getting less time to get things done on either side of the 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. timeframe. Outdoors is the loser, because this Witch is not giving up her reading time.
The books keeping me in the library a bit longer these darker days have some insanely lucious bibliographies (more books, yo!) and if you’re all about going further into the rabbit holes these books open up for you, you’re going to be filled with glee with this round of What the Witch Is Reading.
Recently Finished:
Thoughts That Cloud The Mind by Kelsi Henn Horner
At least once a season, I pick up a poetry book and dive in. Poetry is an important art form for humanity and I am lacking in reasons why not to support it. How many people have learned about their own feelings through poetry? Poetry teaches us empathy, it comforts, it makes people think about how they understand the world, and whether or not they even understand themselves. Tarot helps with that, too. So give me a book that is 300 Haikus dedicated to a daily Tarot card and I’m holding a tome of import. In Thoughts That Cloud The Mind, each entry is suddenly shaking you awake to your own purpose in this rock hurtling through space and time. This book of poems was clearly built on surging emotions – the best kind of poetry. The fact that I’m also trying to decode which poem is to which Tarot card, well that’s just a bonus.
Ancestral Whispers: A Guide to Building Ancestral Veneration Practices by Ben Stimpson
Stimpson spoke to the history geek in me as well as the storyteller in this book. He employs both easily to take the reader through the highs and lows of an ancestral veneration practice, as well as the whys and why nots. The author has his own Venn diagram of intersecting influences on such a practice and it provides a very wide view within the text, as well as drilling down into the finer details of creating your own practice. Stimpson’s prose in the book has this feel of the encouraging and knowledgeable, mindful uncle who is just the smartest and you are in awe of how cool his life is. My own practice is still in its first decade so this exploration with Stimpson was encouraging and created a deep need for further reflection on at least two areas of my practice that I may want to level up. Hopefully more folx read this book and become powerful waiting ancestors.
Heal The Witch Wound: Reclaim Your Magic & Step Into Your Power by Celeste Larsen
When you’re bibliophile last left you we had just finished reading Part I of this book. Part II and III apply the realizations of Part I into your present life and then towards your future. Once again, the author, Celeste Larsen, defines and illuminates symptoms of the witch wound and how it shows up in modern life and then what to do about it. Larsen brings in her own stories which seemingly highlight so many ways in which this wound may have manifested in the readers’ life. The details in the rituals in part III provide a deep well of healing for the reader exploring this Witch wound. This book took longer for me to read, as many in the esoteric genre do, because it’s very thought-provoking. You have to stop and make notes and jot down things you remember and want to ‘treat.’ This is a book I’ll likely return to at some point dive in even deeper. A future ‘Relishing Longer’ tome, perhaps?
Relishing Longer:
I first read this book when it came out in the Summer of 2023; but, I was in the throes of editing a freelance job and revising Magic In Your Cup, so I finished it with the intention of coming back to it. And I’m so glad I did. I’m especially digging the tips and tactics on handling criticism. Every Witch I know is creative. Unlocking that creativity and nurturing it is the focus of this book and the tips on creating a process that invites in the spiritual aspects of Witchcraft– the Elements, Spirit, and the power within. I’m re-working through the practical exercises to more deeply feed and consistently recharge my creative pursuits, as well as my Craft.
Up Next:
Sacred Tears: A Witch’s Guide to Grief by Courtney Weber
There have been moments throughout my years as a Witch, where grief has interrupted my magical practice. Our society doesn’t deal with grief very well at all. And everyone has a different expression of that feeling, state, being. Looking forward to reading this one, especially since Christopher Penczak wrote the foreword and praises the book as raw, honest, and deep.
This book was gifted to me and I love getting books on the writing craft. I have a lot of writing projects coming up, so any energizing spark is greatly appreciated. Tener served on the faculty of Harvard Medical School’s CME publishing course for more than 12 years, among other writing-centered achievements. Let’s see if we can’t do some throat-centered work with this book.
As you can see, I read a little of everything. I’m always curious about what others are reading. What book are you working through right now? Let’s talk books! Comment below. If you have a book you think I should read, let me know that, too!
