Tag: What The Witch Is Reading

What The Witch Is Reading – March 2026

Posted on by runa

This section of my blog is dedicated to spreading the love of reading and books and the people who make them happen. I would not be the Witch I am today without books. I owe an obscene amount of gratitude to all the makers of books out there. This is my way of giving back. I hope that something I pick up and review will guide you to acquire the next tome on your To Be Read stack. 

This month’s What The Witch Is Reading features a diverse collection of titles. With each edition of this column, I mention my habit of exploring literature across various genres. I’ve found that delving into different styles enriches our understanding and broadens our perspectives on, well, life. And thereby the magic we make in it.

Each book presents an opportunity to engage with new ideas, and there’s something valuable to discover in every exploration. This month you’ll encounter authoritarian resistance, the importance of being a responsible ancestor, and challenging patriarchal norms. It’s a rich selection that invites deeper contemplation, dialogue, and spell work. I’m excited to share all the various voices within these books. I hope you find them as thought-provoking as I do. 

Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present by Ruth Ben-Ghiat

A mentor of mine listened to me howl about current politics one day over a virtual coffee date. They recommended this book because it not only explains how authoritarian leaders gain and keep power, it connects historical dictatorships to modern politics, and helps the reader recognize warning signs and defend democracy. 

This book caught me right away when it listed that many of the autocrats from Amine to Trump and Erdogan, Gaddafi, and Putin all came to office through elections. It also highlighted that women aren’t normally the ones causing autocratic or fascist rule.

“Some readers may wonder why I do not discuss strong female leaders in modern history, such as Britain’s prime minister Margaret Thatcher or India’s prime minister Indira Gandhi. While some of these women may have had certain strongman traits (Thatcher’s nickname was “The Iron Lady”) or engaged in repressive actions against minority populations, none of them sought to destroy democracy, and so they are not addressed here. 

And these guys are real pieces of work as Ben-Ghiat points out later.

“When US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Gaddafi in 2008, he insisted she dine in his private kitchen. He showed her a videotape he made of her – a montage of photos of her with Putin and other male leaders, set to a song, “Black Flower in the White House,” he had commissioned in her honor.”

As my nation continues to backtrack on social and justice issues, the examinations in this book made plain some of the idiocy we’re seeing today (think RFK Jr. and Kid Rock’s embarrassing reel on how manly and healthy they were–🤢), but Berlusconi seems, as Ben-Ghiat writes, inspired them. “The goal, in these and many other cases, was to demean professional women and make viewers laugh with him, and at them.” 

Is there hope to get out from under these strong men? The book definitely details great ideas on how to combat these unhealthy leaders. The means to the end of any strongmen is the people. “At its core, though, resistance remains anchored in physical presence: people reclaiming public space and making a different nation visible and audible. In-person protest has crated the images and tactics that still inspire protestors today. … Around the world, one resistance action inspires others.”

However, it’s not going to be a fast switch. And we may want to start by tearing down anything and everything that has TFG’s name on it (and there are many). 

“Undoing the effects of a leader’s oppressive presence and policies takes years, especially when his symbols, burial sites, and buildings live on… The strongman’s stadiums, highways, and airports, which his admirers see as proof that he brought the nation to greatness, cannot cover over the catastrophic loss that results from his rule. Expropriated assets, raided companies, interrupted schooling, disappeared parents, kidnapped children, and massacred communities leave voids that cannot be filled.”

Yes, Americans, she featured our current leader.

“The drive to accumulate and control bodies, territory, and wealth is a hallmark of strongman rule. The leader needs these possessions as much as he needs food and sleep. The rituals and pageantry of authoritarian rule, from rallies for the masses to the elite gatherings staged at private spaces like…Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, play to his bottomless need for control and adoration.”

“To oppose Authoritarians effectively, we must have a clear-eyed view of how they manage to get into power and stay there. The strongman brand of charisma, equal parts seduction and threat, attracts many followers by celebrating male authority. The autocrat bolsters patriarchal authority when it is seen as under threat…”

In short, hex the patriarchy (more on that later). But our country has a lot of shadow work, too in order to strengthen our democracy and heal the wounds currently being made, even as I write this and you read this. 

“America has played an outsized role in the success of authoritarianism around the world, starting with the US banks and media outlets that supported Mussolini’s dictatorship in the 1920s. Although American backing of strongmen was most visible in the age of military coups, the US continues to prop up authoritarians. Lawyers and wealth managers help to keep them in power by securing the money they loot from their nations in offshore accounts.”

But the most chilling piece of evidence in this examination of Strongmen and the steps to recovering form it is founded in hope. She writes:  “There are two paths people can take when faced with the proliferation of polarization and hatred in their societies. They can dig their trenches deeper, or they can reach across the lines to stop a new cycle of destruction, knowing solidarity, love, and dialogue are what the strongman most fears. History shows the importance of keeping hope and faith in humanity and supporting those who struggle for freedom in our own time. We can carry with us the stories of those who lived and died over a century of democracy’s destruction and resurrection. They are precious counsel for us today.”

If you have the tickets, I highly encourage you to read this. I was left with feeling that they mostly will self implode, but we as the people will need to keep the pressure up. I wrote my congressional people and told them to read this book, too. 

Like Sun Tzu wrote in The Art of War, “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

In the end, the book left me with this thought: We Witches tend to know ourselves well or are working on it. Knowing the enemy is maybe where the rest of us struggle. The enemy has shown themselves. Do we know them?

Stir: My Broken Brain and the meals That Brought Me Home by Jessica Fechtor

I picked up this book because the food nerd in me demanded it. This book was an audio ‘read’ for me. It’s language was beautiful and the writer weaved in food love and illness in a brilliant way. It’s largely a feel-good story, but there is one quote in the book I may have to have someone needlepoint some art:

“…felt the power of a recipe in a new way. How it takes you by the hand and tells you just what to do. A good recipe makes you brave.” 

If you need a read that you feel like you’re rooting for the main character, Sitr will be a quick and delightful read. Apparently the actual hold-in-your-hand book had 27 recipes. My library download of this book didn’t host that. I may have to remedy that and buy a physical copy. ::rushes to put it on the list of book-store wish list:: 

Longpath: Becoming the Great Ancestors Our Future Needs; An Antidote for Short Termism by Ari Wallach

I liked this book’s main theme in that it really pushes folx to look beyond their own lifetime. In the author’s words there are distinct actons that need to happen in order for us to become Great Ancestors. 

“Longpath has two critical pillars that are designed to combat the forces of short-termism, and to help you “garden” a brain that brings in a much bigger picture with every decision, even when those decisions lie deep beneath the surface of your consciousness. Those pillars are: 

Transgenerational Empathy: A continual awareness of your place in a chain of being, wherein you reckon with your inherited history, find alignment in and with the present, and make adjustments to improve the future.

Futures Thinking and Telos: An expansive capacity to think about many different types of futures and an invitation to imagine the future you want.

For those of us who have deep empathy, Wallach contends that we are futurists in our own right.  “That’s why empathy for the past has everything to do with the future. Transgenerational Empathy allows you to see what made you.” Transgenerational Empathy. If you’re an empathic person, that’s a heavy term. Long after returning the book to the library, I was still pondering the term Transgenerational Empathy throughout my day. 

Mostly, the book defines that there needs to be a shift in not only how we learn, the author details, “There’s a lot of learning and realignment for us to do during our life spans and a finite amount of time to do it all in. Living an aligned life, comes with an acceptance that inevitable. One day, we won’t be alive, and this fact gives everything we do in our life meaning.”

One day, we won’t be alive. We have to care about what happens after. If we don’t are we even human?

The book’s spotlight on how current politics blocks our ability to be good ancestors, especially where the technology sector is concerned.

“Tech even created the ecosystem that enabled the manipulation of the US political system, as a 2018 report released by the Senate explained: “Social media have gone from being the natural infrastructure for sharing collective grievances and coordinating civic engagement, to being a computational tool for social control, manipulated by canny political consultants and available to politicians in democracies and dictatorships alike.” 

Although I feel the book suffered from a bit of an advertising undercurrent throughout the text (the author teaches these tenets to organizations and leaders), and gives me pause to wholeheartedly recommend it, I liked that the book goes well beyond the Socratic view of examining life, but that an examined future is worth fighting for. 

It did give me hope that there are people trying to get others to think about our grandchildren’s grandchildren, and act accordingly. For that, I was grateful to read it. 

Hexing the Patriarchy: 26 Potions, Spells, and Magical Elixirs to Embolden The Resistance by Ariel Gore

This book has been in my TBR pile for too long. But it felt like the perfect brain cleanse after reading Ben-Ghiat’s Strongmen. And it was. As a former student of Gore (seriously if you have a chance to learn with her, do it), I have long loved the eclectic mix of people she has in her life and writes about. In this book, Gore brought out all the powerful witches and there’s 26 different spells to choose from, A to Z, from the most incredibly diverse and powerful group one could assemble as a, dare I say, Mega-coven. 

Gore suggests that you start with the letters of your first name and work those, as to not be overwhelmed. But I can see how each and ever witch out there just might get through the whole dang alphabet. If I were to follow that guidance to do the spells of my name, we’d be looking at the following spells:

R – Reclaiming Power. Call on the goddess of transformation to do no harm and take no shit. (Every B’Witch I know could use a dose of this magic. A more powerful you is a more powerful ally.)

U – Unleashing Nemesis. Let the goddess of retribution and reparations explode in all her glorious pent-up fury. (The intro to this spell is all about Nazi Germany and I was like,  holy shit, is this relevant, prophetic shit, Gore wrote.)

N – Never Erase. Raze the border walls to the ground: no person is “illegal.” (This entire section gave me chills and is so apropos given the collective fuckery we’re all dealing with right now.)

A – Ancestors. Hit up your dead relatives to help you smash the system. (Where our inheritance merges and how that mashes with our magic. Next layer ancestor veneration, readers.)

And there are 22 other sections to spell out the end of white supremacy and its older brother patriarchy. Pretty slay. 

Gore weaved a special kind of magic in the book by using dozens of other practitioners from around the world in every representation. You can feel that powerful energy coming throughout each letter’s of the larger spell work. Imagine if every witch out there worked all 26 of these spells. From my words to the Universe’s desire. So it is. All this or better, witches.  

I only have two concerns about this book. First is the inclusion of glitter in one of the workings. As a land-tender I am all too aware that commercially produced ‘glitter’ is harmful to the environment. However, it is easily substituted with colored sugar, salt, dried herbs, or mica. The second disappointment I had was that it took me so long to get to this one. I could have used this book when it first came out. Better late than never. Regardless, it’ll be well worn before too long. 

See you for the next post on What The Witch Is Reading. Thanks for reading and comment if you have any questions, anecdotes, or requests.

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 me know that, too!

What The Witch Is Reading – February 2026

Posted on by runa

This section of my blog is dedicated to spreading the love of reading and books and the people who make them happen. I would not be the Witch I am today without books. I owe an obscene amount of gratitude to all the makers of books out there. This is my way of giving back. I hope that something I pick up and review will guide you to acquire the next tome on your To Be Read stack.

Reading in the winter is one of the things I most enjoy. Snuggling up in my reading chair with my puppers, next to the fire and sipping tea whilst I work my way through a book is heavenly. As I mentioned in my last post, most of my reading has been dedicated to recent research I’m doing for an ongoing project while still doing my Witch Work and running a permaculture Covenstead. Those books won’t appear here as to not give the project away before it’s ready for its public. But I’m always reading. Since my last post, I have finished two books (I’m reading a total of 4 right now – what? I like variety!)

Scorpio Witch by Ivo Dominguez, Jr. and Zoë Howe

I would not call myself an astrologer. I only started deepening my astrology knowledge back in 2017, with a big increase in my application of it in my daily life and magical practice beginning during the pandemic. But even knowing enough to be dangerous allowed me to enjoy this book and learn more and solidify some of the knowledge that I have about the impact of a Scorpio Sun, which yours truly is. 

I saw myself in so much of the content for connecting more deeply with the Scorpionic aspects of holding this sun sign. I know what the stereotypes are – and Dominguez and Howe go beyond and provide great tips to lean into that power. This is done through clean, no-nonsense writing and the play off of Dominguez’s more professorial tone and Howe’s more rock-n-roll takes on things plays a nice yin and yang in the text. The reader is left more grounded yet invited to shake their Witch’s rattle. 

Howe details early that Scorpios are those lone wolf witches who are perfectly content with being a solitary practitioner, “…unless a very special group presents itself.” She continues the expose on Scorpio suns with, “… magical work is sacred and we, the Zodiac’s least trusting sign, have to feel certain before we allow ourselves to be vulnerable in the presence of others.” ON POINT, readers! 

The book also explores the different moon signs that a Scorpio sun might have and how you can use the sway of the lunar energy to balance the light and shadow within that Scorpio sun. 

Dominguez also explores the rising signs, so going into reading this, knowing your big three is a plus, but early in the book there are directions on how to find your sun, moon, and rising. The anointing oil instructions he provided in the book is dead-on Scorpio scent love. I’ve already created it and use it in my daily meditations when preparing my sacred space. 

The part of the book that I will return to often – this is a reference book to be sure, but not dry and stale, but something that will teach you over and over again – is the exercises, spells, and rituals included – many by other writers who hold that Scorpio Sun in their chart.

I would, however, like to purchase a copy where they didn’t use the script font in the section titled “Postcard from a Scorpio Witch” by Lisa Jade. Utterly difficult to read and feels inaccessible depending on the reader’s mood, lighting, and eyesight. But the way it presents definitely feels like someone writing you a postcard – or letter even as it’s a few pages long. So the design choice made sense. But, maybe a clearer script font would be more appropriate?

However, I’m already awaiting the arrival of two more in this astro-witch series. When they get to the top of the TBR pile, you’ll hear from me on those books, too.

Mountain Magic: Explore the Secrets of Old Time Witchcraft by Rebecca Beyer

In 2025, along with reclaiming spirit work, I also had the goal of learning more about the cultural and societal influences on my ancestors. These goals continue through 2026, and if you’ve not explored your ancestors’ lives as we recall them, I highly encourage it. 

My path to explore these ancestral influences led me to Mountain Magic. It was on a stand right by the cash register, so maybe a spontaneous purchase, but also someone nudging me on my elbow, saying, “read this.” A good few branches of my family tree begin and branch from Appalachia USA. Beyer’s knowledge of that is fairly well rounded. As I mentioned last month, Wild Witchcraft, also by Beyer, sits on my shelf and I referenced it in Magic In Your Cup. Beyer loves research, as I do, and so getting a second book by her didn’t take much thinking. 

Like so many Craft books, this one hosts all kinds of working recipes. The ones in this book were inspired or done by generations of Appalachian folk magic. There’s some things in the mix of what is presented in this book that may make even the most devoted of Witches raise an eyebrow. But again, this is an education in how our beloved dead perhaps saw and ‘worked’ the world. It was nice to see validation of the materia magica that continues in my own practice naturally, but new ones to try, especially as I try to work with Beloved Dead in my spirit work. 

One interesting thing happened whilst I was reading this book. I had just finished the section on using Witchballs for Protection. Now in my lineage, witchballs were decorative, often hollow, glass spheres hung in windows to do the same things the Appalachia Witchballs did – trap evil, spells, and ill fortune, protecting the household. In other cultures they can be called spirit balls or friendship balls. Again, I had just finished that section when my partner and I were off on errands. Part of that was dropping off a donation to a thrift charity shop. When we drop, we often pause to shop, too. Treasure hunting is one of our favorite pastimes. What did I find? But a huge, six-inch diameter Witchball featuring all my favorite colors, with a motive of waves through the center. I’m heavy in the water element in my Natal chart, and it was like my ancestors said, “Here, you need more wards. We found this for you and now you know more about how to employ it.” 

Another thing is that I found the same Abracadabra energy in Mountain Witch that also appears in Scorpio Witch. Given that Abracadabra has been part of magic for millenia is encouraging to see it worked from different Practitioners perspectives. Absolutely they use similar tools, but employed slightly different – something that is not unusual within different paths of the Craft. Beyer folk magic; Dominguez with a more Witch/Wicca/Pagan viewpoint. Both powerful magic speaks to different paths and sympathies. And that synchronicity was electric to discover in this month’s readings.  

Up Next:

I am reading more research I can’t reveal yet; but, you know I’m not just reading one book at a time. I picked up two books at my local library – both a little more secular subjects, but I followed my intuition again for book selection. The books are: 

Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present by Ruth Ben-Ghiat, and 

The Pursuits of Philosophy: An Introduction to the Life and Thought of David Hume by Annette C. Baier. 

I’m in the midst of writing a fiction short story, so heady non-fiction is the way to read for me now. However, sudden urges to hit the used book store may bring a different work to the next Bookish Witch post.

See you for the next post on What The Witch Is Reading. Thanks for reading and comment if you have any questions, anecdotes, or requests.

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 me know that, too!

What The Witch Is Reading – A Writing Break -April/May 2025

Posted on by runa
This section of my blog is dedicated to spreading the love of reading and books and the people who make them happen. I would not be the Witch I am today without books. I owe an obscene amount of gratitude to all the makers of books out there. This is my way of giving back. I hope that something I pick up and review will guide you to acquire the next tome on your To Be Read stack. 

I have currently been doing a lot of reading. A lot. But it’s not the on-brand for a Witch reading I was doing over the last year where I reviewed the fun, interesting, and often esoteric books. Nope, this reading has been all for research for my current manuscript in progress. I should clarify that I still find this interesting and engaging – a lot of it in a field I’m sure is going to change so many people’s lives. But the subject matter is hush-hush until public announcements can be made. I will say it’s going to merge science, everyday life, and Witchcraft. 

Despite having read a near Witch’s dozen of books since the last What The Witch Is Reading post, It hasn’t left a lot of fodder for ‘reviewable’ content. Posting a WTWIR on all these books would potentially give away the secret too soon. But it did make me want to write a bit about how reading helps our writing skills. Reading is a great writing teacher. 

“Read, read, read. Read everything — trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You’ll absorb it. Then write. If it is good, you’ll find out. If it’s not, throw it out the window,” as famously reported by John Ochwat as a William Faulkner quote. 

I have read widely and intentionally as one of the more effective ways for me to become a better writer. Although my studio’s bookshelf is full of mainly esoteric books, the other shelves within my home feature everything from how to turn dirt into soil, writing books, novels in every genre, text books, biographies, poetry volumes – all of it. 

Here’s what my daily reading habit (specifically book reading without the screen) has done for me over the years: 

  1. Word Nerd Love. Reading builds vocabulary and language skills. As you read you’re exposed to different words and phrases. You unconsciously absorb grammar, syntax, and rhythm. You begin to see ways of improving your own sentence clarity and word choice. 
  2. Story Set Up. Reading teaches structure and form. As you read you’re digesting narrative structures, pacing, story arcs, tension through observation, the conventions that each genre uses, and just the sheer vastness of formats from essays, to novels, to one of my favorites: flash fiction. 
  3. Cheap Inspiration. It’s rare I’ll be reading a book that doesn’t rev-up  my inner good-idea fairy. Books spark new ideas, themes, perspectives, and melded with your worldview, creates layers of possibilities. Have a writing block? Go to a museum or read new poetry. It unblocks things often in my experience.
  4. All The Feels. Reading enhances empathy, character development, and where rules are broken successfully. There are innumerable ways to see how different writers grow their characters, pace their stories, and get you – the reader – to relate to the text. You read how other writers make you feel something with their writing. That teaches us how we might accomplish the same within our own writing. Making the reader feel something is the whole point of being a writer. Reading allows us to contrast and compare, too, It shows us where the rules we’ve learned – both via reading or training – can be broken successfully, which often clicks open a new pathway via point #3 above. 
  5. Think Better. Reading encourages critical thinking and reflection. You might notice when a writer isn’t as successful, but noticing when they are on point teaches us as well. You can see how others use voice, tone, and reflective phrases to make the reader pause and think. The more we do this the more we become better self-editors and begin to read like a writer – like noticing when a writer leans too heavily on adverbs or passive verbs, and then you’re scouring your manuscript to make sure you haven’t fallen for the same foible. 
  6. Community. Reading motivates and sustains writers. Being able to talk about books ala clubs or within friendly circles is another way that reading helps us become better writers. Studying the discipline and craft of published writers propels our own craft forward. Reading about the community of writers can illuminate all kinds of tips and tactics. Love a particular writer? There’s a good chance their career is inspiring your own and pushing you to finish that project you’ve been working on for five years. 

Reading is not just an enjoyable hobby, it can be a life-long teacher in writing. If you build a regular reading habit, and integrate it as part of your writing goals, things like new vocabulary, alternative structures, character development, and even critiquing others’ works energizes and brings new vigor to the writing process. 

What are you reading? How did it change your writing? 

Creator’s Note: I hope to return to regular What The Witch Is Reading selections very soon. This current Work In Progress is very demanding. 😉

What The Witch Is Reading – January 2025

Posted on by runa

This section of my blog is dedicated to spreading the love of reading and books and the people who make them happen. I would not be the Witch I am today without books. I owe an obscene amount of gratitude to all the makers of books out there. This is my way of giving back. I hope that something I pick up and review will guide you to acquire the next tome on your To Be Read stack. 

January flew by and I’ve been spending extra time reading, which I adore. Next to the fire with my puppers in my lap and a cup of coffee nearby. It’s the best. My own book launch went off spectacularly and I am deep in drafting book two, so the bookish witch life continues.

Recently Finished:

Modern Magic: Stories, Rituals, and Spells For Contemporary Witches by Michelle Tea. The magic in this book is certainly the storytelling prowess of its author. Another title could have been ‘Craft for Real Life,’ as Tea weaves the necessity of the magic throughout a life peppered with unconventional living arrangements, relationships, and recovery. Everything from working with Saints, Mystical Snacktivism, House magic, and more. My favorite part has to be Laurie’s Egg of Light under the chapter called ‘Witch Panic.’ I was screaming in delight with recognition of my own kind of Egg of Light spells I cast for protection on kindred. Laurie wherever you are, I see you, Witch. Also, I love the approachableness of how Tea writes of her magical practice. It’s fluid and flowing and weaved in her life from dreams to charms. From breathwork to hexing, whether you’re a Witchling or a Crone, you’re going to dig this book.

An Apostate’s Guide to Witchcraft: Finding Freedom Through Magic by Moss Matthey. There’s a soothing flow and voice in this book. Matthey’s ‘considerate, sensitive, and nurturing,’ nature as detailed by foreword writer Mhara Starling is evident throughout the book. The escape from a cult healing that happens through Witchcraft is so validating for those of us who had our own religious trauma to heal from. The book clearly represents all the lessons that Matthey pulls not just from his cult escape, but also his Welsh and German ancestry. The section of the book on identity and diversity under the chapter of The Queerness of Witchcraft especially resonated with me. But the amount of quotes I pulled out to remember for later was pretty high in this book. His section on progressive revelation and Doubt is Divine under chapter 10 has me considering many new things as well as a new list of books to acquire from said chapter. The amount of progressive revelation from this seemingly new Witch shows that Matthey just may be an older soul than we know. A seeker like many of us, Matthey’s book is one to help you shed anything that’s not serving you and find your way to your own journey of freedom through the Craft. 

The Way of Fire and Ice: The Living Tradition of Norse Paganism by Ryan Smith. I love books with thick bibliographies and clear indexes, especially on subject matters that I may refer back to, like Nordic spirituality. Ryan Smith’s book is not only deeply knowledgeable in this path, but also its evident – if you study it – adaptable traditions that build community and resist fascism. This book is dense in all the subjects found under Norse mythology and the spiritual paths it has created. Smith’s radical look at this brings hope in a world seemingly bent on destroying healthy spirituality and its communities. If you’re called by the likes of Freyja or Thor, this book gives you a nice basis in understanding how to build relationships with these deities and develop practices (and songs) within a modern life. His section on Runes is making me seek out some other resources as well. As a long-time Rune caster there’s information in the book on the Elder Futhark that is counter to some of what I understood. I’m excited to find where the disconnect between what I understood and what he writes in the book may be bridged. I finished this book feeling like I had some new missions in my own spiritual practice, so good on ya, Smith. 

The Book of Delights by Ross Gay. This book was gifted to me near my birthday in November by the admirable Theresa Reed. It has been quite the solar-return blessing. This book brings us soothing prose, even I might add practical hopefulness in the light of so much violence and terror in the world. Gay is an award-winning poet and clearly a Knight for finding enchantment in our lives. Pleasure and happiness are the balance to the pain and sadness of modern life. Bite-sized essays are great to read when the world is too heavy. Grab your cat, cup, and get this book in your lap for a quick pick-me-up, or a long session of reading for bliss. My favorite – which will be unsurprising to anyone who knows me – surrounds an interaction with a praying mantis. It is essay number 7, which gets my numerology nerd excited. Birds and crows figure prominently, too, so Gay gets another stamp of approval from me. Seriously, the weaving of language to convey healing balm for the reader for the wounds and weariness of the world.

The Old Farmer’s 2025 Almanac. Every year this periodical finds its way to me. This year it was a Yule gift from my eldest daughter and her family, including my dear Grand Witchling. As a ‘farmer’ of sorts my whole life, the Sun, Moon, Stars, and Planets included in this book are always appreciated, but as I grow older, the coverage of farming trends and the people behind it are a bigger pull. This year’s volume has me planning a trip to the home-stomping grounds of Canadian kindred and the cheese makers in British Columbia. Such synchronicity – which often happens when you’re paying attention to the land and cosmic weather, which the TOFA has done for 233 years. I’d really love to see less advertising in it, or keep the advertising to the back, since sometimes the latest and greatest in land care can be found there. But this year’s publication seems to be especially fraught with commercialization. But the inspiration found inside of it is still gold. 

Up Next:

Blackthorn’s Protection Magic: A Witch’s Guide to Mental & Physical Self Defense by Amy Blackthorn. Many a book on my TBR pile comes from recommendations from a community I belong to and adore. Laura Tempest Zakroff has a patreon that I participate in as much as I can (I wish I could attend all the time!). If you want your TBR pile to grow, come hang out with this well-read crowd, too. I just dipped into this one the night before penning this post, so only initial reactions from me on this. But Blackthorn really wants the reader to understand where they stand in the world of magic before proceeding and that kind of expectation is something I deeply support. Looking forward to more. 

The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer. From the author of Braiding Sweetgrass and Gathering Moss comes another title that seems destined for more in my own life, as getting more serviceberries here at Villa Westwyk is a goal. 

Kimmerer is known as a great teacher and I’m ready to learn all about natural wealth distributions and the idea that all flourishing is mutual. In a world where the rich cannot be satisfied, this book already feels like the start of realigning ‘enough’ in our lives. 

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 about books! Comment below. If you have a book you think I should read, let me know that, too!

What The Witch Is Reading: 2024 Year In Review

Posted on by runa

I’m working through a tall stack of books on my nightstand this month, and will post a hearty monthly What The Witch Is Reading entry on those books soon. Today you get an overview of all the books I read last year and what I thought of them, and share my top favorites for the year. 

Laying my posts out all at once made me recognize that I was still very much in book-writing/editing/launching mode for Magic In Your Cup, and my consistency of reading was slowed and composing my posts even slower. My goal for this year is to consistently post each month and finish at least one whole book, since I’m starting the writing process all over again for my ::crosses fingers:: book two. I hope you’ll join me in this venture. If you don’t want to miss the Bookish Witch news, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter. 

My Top Reads of 2024

The Book That Stayed With Me The Most: Early in the year I read a book that has led me down some new pathways in my spirituality and connected me to ancestors I hadn’t realized. That book was Longing For Darkness: Tara and the Black Madonna by China Galland. As I noted in my post in February, the Black Madonna appeared to me in a dream a few years back. The book is making me think now, post 2024 election here in the USA, about the nonviolence in specifically Galland’s story, the Solidarity movement in Poland that she stumbled upon within her search for the Divine Mother and her own spiritual journey. Thanks to this book, I’m learning more about the little folk practices my Polish and other Slavic ancestors did that were adopted by the descendants that focused on assimilating as opposed to continuing their spiritual and/or magical practices. Longing For Darkness is the kind of book that continues to leave bits of its stories inside you as you walk your own journey in life. If you haven’t read this particular book, perhaps consider putting it on your list for 2025. 

The Book That Let Me Lean In: In the middle of the summer I was ripping through the book Alive With Spirits: The Path and Practice of Animistic Witchcraft by Althaea Sebastiani. This book’s guide to helping you deepen your own relationship with the Land, Departed Dead, and all manner of spiritual and physical relationships a Witch may have. Even if you’re a long-time Practitioner like myself, this book has such a great map to help you reinforce your own Practice, or even teach you a new thing or two. I loved all the reinforcement of what I knew to be a healthy practice and viewpoint on the Craft, that as a solitary practitioner isn’t always available. For that, I’m very grateful to the author and their book. If you do the work presented in the book, you’re absolutely going to rise up more powerfully in how you do your Practice. Don’t take my word for it, go read the book and do the work. 

The Book That Charged Up My Spellcraft: Of Blood and Bones: Working With Shadow Magick of the Dark Moon by Kate Freuler was a book I had listened to when it was first released and then again during my research for Magic In Your Cup. But I picked up the hard copy and read it through again, pausing to do some of the workings inside of it as I reviewed. As I mentioned in my post on this one (October 24), as a Witch that picks up snake skin, wasp nests, acorns, and animal bones to use in my spellcraft, this book felt like a sister grimoire that will remain on my shelf for many years to come. 

The Book That Showed Me A Different World: As a dreamworker myself, I am always gobbling up any books on dreams – magical or otherwise. But Elhoim Leafar’s book Dream Witchery: Folk Magic, Recipes & Spells From South America For Witches & Brujas showed me many new magical practices and beliefs around dreams that still intrigues me every time I see his name or pass the book on my shelf. The worldview here is so unique and ever fascinating. Even though my dream practice looks different, it was definitely refined after reading this one. Case in point, Leafar’s reiterating protection magic while doing so many of the workings in the book is a great reminder even for us Crones that any practice’s foundations need to be fortified regularly. I’m ever grateful for that message within the book. 

Below is a link to each one with a short vignette on what books/authors are covered in each post if you’re new around here and missed them the first time around. 

What The Witch Is Reading: February 2024

What The Witch Is Reading: May 2024

What The Witch Is Reading: July 2024

What The Witch Is Reading: September 2024

What The Witch Is Reading: October 2024

What The Witch Is Reading: November 2024

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 about books! Comment below. If you have a book you think I should read, let me know that, too!

What The Witch Is Reading – November 24

Posted on by runa
This section of my blog is dedicated to spreading the love of reading and books and the people who make them happen. I would not be the Witch I am today without books. I owe an obscene amount of gratitude to all the makers of books out there. This is my way of giving back. I hope that something I pick up and review will guide you to acquire the next tome on your To Be Read stack. 

As I pen this there is a scant 20 days until the world gets Magic In Your Cup. Reading time has been at a premium as I rally the energy within the deepest dark of winter – truly it may not be as cold as February, but until the Winter Solstice, we get less and less of the sun that fuels many a person’s fire, your Crone included. The last of Autumn’s outdoor chores are as done as done can be. Plus with the Land’s gift of a banger pumpkin harvest, I’m roasting pumpkins everyday. This is all to say that reading has been slow, if not steady. 

Recently Finished:  

Of Blood and Bones: Working With Shadow Magick and the Dark Moon by Kate Freuler: As I expressed last month, finding another in the Craft who picks up snake skin, wasp nests, acorns, and bones to do magic, this was a natural keep to remain on my regularly referenced witchy bookshelf. The entire volume speaks to my soul. I appreciate Freuler’s very careful relaying of this type of magic and the offering to those who are not inclined to work with bones and blood still can do this dark moon-focused magic. Just reading it may expose more shadow magic that you realized you needed to do or even some that perhaps you’ll want to avoid. I was particularly fond of Part IV: Looking death and rebirth in the face. Even if you’re not a Scorpio sun, this section will speak to many intermediate and veteran Witches.

 Sacred Tears: A Witch’s Guide to Grief by Courtney Weber – The opening pages of this book made me realize I need to take this one slow. And Weber says that. Her stories of loss will likely bring up a lot for any reader. Like Christopher Penzack says in the foreword, the author’s writing is raw and honest.  I deeply appreciated how Weber handled some of what many may consider the more challenging of grief: ambiguous loss. This is grief borne from things like being estranged from your family of origin, the losses that come with familial addiction, and how eventually you will find the gifts in that grief, too. Yes, I typed that correctly – the GIFTS of grief. Not the cliche silver lining, which Weber counsels readers away from, but how you transform through all the non-linear stages potentially experienced after any crisis that produces bereavement. The book is heavy with so many practical and spiritual methods of coping with the feelings that come with loss and tragedy in our lives that Weber’s work also feels like a manual a Witch might refer back to time and again. 

Breathe, Write, Breathe. 18 Energizing Practices to Spark your Writing and Free your Voice by Lilsa Tener – If you’re not shy about using QR codes, this book packs even more of a writing exercise punch. There is no use crying writer’s block if this book is on your shelf. There’s even a section on breath and dreaming that deeply spoke to this Witch. Again, this is not a book I’d recommend to read in a straight go, but one you ‘exercise’ with regularly. Will appeal to every writing Witch and woo-adjacent creative. 

Relishing Longer:

Modern Magic: Stories, Rituals, and Spells For Contemporary Witches by Michelle Tea.  I’m about halfway in this one and glad to see that Tea isn’t on the bandwagon of dislike of the moniker ‘kitchen witchery.’ And I’ll happily dive into this new ‘mystical snacktivism’ she’s on about. More to report in the next entry. This book is described as the sibling to Tea’s Modern Tarot with a focus on creating stronger magic incorporating queer, feminist, anti-racist, and intersectional values. Tea’s known for her literary accomplishments, so I’m looking forward to this. Okay, who am I joking, I look forward to opening every book. But this does check a lot of boxes for me. 

Up Next:

An Apostate’s Guide to Witchcraft: Finding Freedom Through Magic by Moss Matthey

I participated in a talk recently by Mr. Matthey which lit up my Germanic ancestor line standing behind me. His knowledge about all their magic created an excited hum in the studio as I listened to him. His history of both Welsh and German traditions is aligned in the paths my ancestral culture walked. His history also includes some Xtian religious trauma. That, too, mirrors parts of my own life, so his perspective may prove to be invaluable. The foreword by Mhara Starling provides validation in my understanding of the Moss’s knowledge and demeanor as “considerate, sensitive, and nurturing.” This makes me even more excited to dive in just as the nights get longer and longer. 

The Way of Fire and Ice: The Living Tradition of Norse Paganism by Ryan Smith

The Heathen gods are part of my ancestry. Finding a book on the modern interpretations that isn’t based in racism is hard to come by; but the author of this tome is one of the founders of Heathen United Against Racism. So I’m excited to carve out time to read this one. Have you read it? What are your thoughts? 

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 about books! Comment below. If you have a book you think I should read, let me know that, too!

What the Witch Is Reading: October 2024

Posted on by runa
This section of my blog is dedicated to spreading the love of reading and books and the people who make them happen. I would not be the Witch I am today without books. I owe an obscene amount of gratitude to all the makers of books out there. This is my way of giving back. I hope that something I pick up and review will guide you to acquire the next tome on your To Be Read stack. 

More Time For Books…

We’re in the Big Dark here in Western Washington. This means there’s not a lot of light, lots of rain, and the sun only makes brief appearances. The good part of that is extra reading and writing time. And I did finish a few extra books this go-round. I suspect that November, when it’s colder and darker, will also induce some extra reading sessions. It’s the best part about winter in my book. 😉

Recently Finished:  

Glamstrology by Michael Herkes

I tore through this one. It arrived just a little over a week ago and I was up late reading through all the beautiful pages. Herkes’ writing is like having your best pal show you all the great things about yourself you didn’t know you possessed. Express yourself using a little magic and a lot of tips from The Glam Witch – the moniker that Herkes is known for. The book is full of color and illustrations and color coding, because you know we Witches love a good ‘reference’ book.  Diving into this book you may just find a new magical style, or you’ll be reassured – as I was – that your style default is exactly aligned. You’ll never look at your rising, Venus, or Neptune placements the same way again. Not a big astrology nerd? No worries, Glamstrology includes easy references on everything zodiac from the signs, planets, houses, the elements, and so much more. There’s a ton of not only fashion sense and beauty routine advice, but a new path of magic to explore. Glamstrology will have you looking at your own path to glamor magic in a whole new way. 

Self Source-ery  by Lisa Lister

The subtitle of this book is: Come to Your Senses, Trust Your Instincts, Remember Your Magic. And Lisa Lister, bestselling author of Witch, takes you through another wild ride of path forging that Lister is known for. You’ll delve into all our bodies, our intuition, and energy. She has her own vocabulary that will be very familiar to those who read her other books  But even if you haven’t read those, you’ll easily embrace her storytelling skill and deep vulnerability.  Lister draws her practice from not only lived experience, but also her studies of art, somatic practices, ceremonialism, and a medicine keeper.  She’s a fellow Scorpio and will talk about all the taboo stuff. This book was another that I devoured quickly and is giving me lots more inspiration in my mission to live more in tune with the rhythms of nature. 

Inspiring Creativity Through Magick by Astrea Taylor

This was a Relish Longer entry from last month.  However, I am not sure you can ever be ‘finished’ with this one. In fact, I think this might be a book I reach for on the regular to fall back in love with my creativity. The subtitle for this one: How To Ritualize Your Art & Attract The Creative Spirit. Regardless of what your art is – and Taylor nudges the reader repeatedly to not diminish what those can be – you will find inspiration on each page. This book is so chock full of goodness about how to create a practice for your creative pursuits. The Magick of Revision section right now is coming in clutch, as is the Performance/Release blessing ritual. If you create, this will be a very useful book. It ends up on my desk more than the shelf. 

Relishing Longer:

Sacred Tears: A Witch’s Guide to Grief by Courtney Weber – The opening pages of this book made me realize I need to take this one slow. And Weber says that. Her stories of loss will likely bring up a lot for any reader. Like Christopher Penzack says in the foreword, the author’s writing is raw and honest. 

Breathe, Write, Breathe. 18 Energizing Practices to Spark your Writing and Free your Voice by Lilsa Tener – Real talk. I’ve not had a whole lot of time to get into this, so… There’s lots of exercises which with my book tour coming up, I haven’t had the time to focus on. I’m hoping that the deep winter slow-down is going to give me time to play with this more. 

Up Next:

Of Blood and Bones: Working With Shadow Magick and the Dark Moon by Kate Freuler: As a witch that picks up snake skin, wasp nests, acorns, and bones to do her magic, Freuler speaks to my soul. Yes, I’ve already tip-toed into this one a bit, but had to put it down because I was working through exercises and workings from Taylor’s book above. But, I can’t wait to get back to it. Freuler’s no-nonsense yet inclusive writing is refreshing. Also, I’m chuffed to find a book of another’s practice in working with the dark moon regularly. 

Modern Magic: Stories, Rituals, and Spells For Contemporary Witches by Michelle Tea. This book is described as the sibling to Tea’s Modern Tarot with a focus on creating stronger magic incorporating queer, feminist, anti-racist, and intersectional values. Tea’s known for her literary accomplishments, so I’m looking forward to this. Okay, who am I joking, I look forward to opening every book. But this does check a lot of boxes for me. 

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 about books! Comment below. If you have a book you think I should read, let me know that, too!

What The Witch Is Reading: September 2024

Posted on by runa
This section of my blog is dedicated to spreading the love of reading and books and the people who make them happen. I would not be the Witch I am today without books. I owe an obscene amount of gratitude to all the makers of books out there. This is my way of giving back. I hope that something I pick up and review will guide you to acquire the next tome on your To Be Read stack. 

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:

Inspiring Creativity Through Magick: How to Ritualize Your Art & Attract the Creative Spirit by Astrea Taylor

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. 

Breathe. Write. Breathe. 18 Energizing Practices to Spark your Writing and Free Your Voice by Lisa Tener

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!

What The Witch Is Reading: July 2024

Posted on by runa
This section of my blog is dedicated to spreading the love of reading and books and the people who make them happen. I would not be the Witch I am today without books. I owe an obscene amount of gratitude to all the makers of books out there. This is my way of giving back. I hope that something I pick up and review will guide you to acquire the next tome on your To Be Read stack. 

How is it almost August? I hope you’ve been busy with your nose in a book for at least part of this summer. June flew by and I was reading, reading, but having trouble keeping up to post this in June. So, this entry is a bit more than usual. But there were some very good books included, all of them pretty mind opening.. 

Recently Finished:

Dream Witchery: Folk Magic, Recipes & Spells From South America For Witches & Brujas by Elhoim Leafar. 

As a dreamworker myself I was excited to get my hands on this book. Leafar’s experience as an urban spiritual worker and the influence of his Craft from Venezuelan Brujos had me intrigued from the beginning of the text. The fact that he brought in other practitioners to lend more stories and perspectives to the book speaks to Leafar’s multiple esoteric backgrounds. Because of his upbringing and now living in the United States, he has a unique perspective on how mutable and cultural dreams and dreamwork can be. I found his voice refreshing. The way he weaves narrative into the dreamwork is inviting for the reader and leads you down a dream world path with ease. His stories about the symbolism in a dream for an American versus someone of Caribbean culture highlight why the remainder of the book’s pages show you how to create your dream practice and learn from the varied and powerful one that Leafar has. Included in the book are dozens upon dozens of spellcraft, rituals, recipes, and more all about dreams, the dreamer, and the dream world. Dream Witchery is a great reference book for aspiring dreamworkers, but at its foundation, there are years and generations full of dreamworkers held in its pages.

Alive with Spirits: The Path and Practice of Animistic Witchcraft by Althaea Sebastiani

Remember how I missed June’s edition of What The Witch Is Reading? That’s because not only was I busting butt healing the land, but I was reading this book, twice – back to back. And now I’m listening to it while pulling weeds in the garden, which I think the author might appreciate. For many becoming a Witch means stumbling through and learning bit by bit to create our Craft practice. However you’ve come to the Craft or even Animism, Sebastiani takes your hand in Alive With Spirits and shows you a customizable plan to walk deeper into a world filled with spirits and a deeper relationship with the Land. She details throughout the book that right relationships with the Land and Spirits help us be in right relationship with ourselves and other living people. Sebastani’s experience living this way comes through clearly in the book and grounds the reader – whether they be novice or elder – in five traits and seven skills of Witchcraft. As I mentioned, I have read it twice already and am listening to it a third time. This will be a book I recommend to any practitioner, especially because it’s clear that Sebastiani wants you to do the work and gives the reader exercises in each chapter to hone and expand their Craft and Practice, especially where relationships with Spirits are concerned. 

Relishing Longer:

Wild Soul Runes: Reawakening the Ancestral Feminine by Lara Veleda Vesta

Alive With Spirits likely would have been here last month under ‘relishing longer’ if I’d gotten to June’s edition since I re-read this. I’m not re-reading Wild Soul Runes, but rather ‘doing.’ The book features a week-by-week plan to deepen your relationship with the Runes. With 24 Runes, it will take me a bit to do this, but the Runes and I go way back, so I think this will be like a second honeymoon. 😉 As I mentioned in my May post, the inclusivity of this book is refreshing given that sometimes some close-minded individuals can attach themselves to these sacred divining tools. I especially enjoyed the feminine point of view and lens throughout the book. I’m going to work through all the exercises bit by bit and dive even deeper into my relationship with the Runes. 

Up Next:

Heal the Witch Wound: Reclaim Your magic and Step Into your Power by Celeste Larsen

I am about ⅔ way through this read and I just started a few days ago. Larsen however is uncovering things for me that I experienced but was unsure of its source. Be prepared to want to go down rabbit holes with your Witch Wound with this one. The history section can be rage-making if you haven’t heard some of the stories before – if you have heard them, you’ll be reminded there’s a lot of generational trauma we’re all healing – a Witch Wound just might be it for you, too. I’ll begin Part II next and that’s where Larsen contends the healing begins. Excited to read further. 

Ancestral Whispers: A Guide to Building Ancestral Veneration Practices by Ben Stimpson. 

This book has been patiently waiting in my TBR pile for me to crack it open. I adore its title because I often hear my ancestors whispering. This book came highly recommended to me by several people, so I’m curious to see how Stimpson approaches all there is with this wide subject matter. 

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!

What The Witch Is Reading: May 2024

Posted on by runa

This section of my blog is dedicated to spreading the love of reading and books and the people who make them happen. I would not be the Witch I am today without books. I owe an obscene amount of gratitude to all the makers of books out there. This is my way of giving back. I hope that something I pick up and review will guide you to acquire the next tome on your To Be Read stack. 

March was insanely busy for work (huzzah for editing jobs!) and April’s Mercury Retrograde – on the heels of another eclipse – felt like I was re-reading the same page every day. Although, I wasn’t. I am moving through a couple of different texts and audiobooks right now. But I didn’t have any of them finished until now. Hopefully, my goal to post one of these once a month will groove forward with no problems from this point on in my ‘What the Witch Is Reading’ posts. 

This brings me to the point of posting today – even if you read slowly, you’re still reading. Even if you’re listening to a book – you’re still reading. You’re allowing yourself to be lost in a story, to explore a world – even just in your mind – you are still doing it. Through books – no matter their format – we gain access to a vast repository of knowledge, ideas, and perspectives that expand our understanding – of the world, ourselves, and each other. More importantly, it exposes us to diverse cultures, experiences, and viewpoints. Reading nurtures empathy because we begin to understand others better. Although so many of us use it as a leisure activity – reading is a fundamental skill for success in all areas of life. 

Embrace reading in all its forms and enrich your life in countless ways.

Perhaps you’d like to take a chance on one of these books. 

Recently Finished:

Longing For Darkness: Tara and the Black Madonna by China Galland

As I mentioned in February’s post, the Black Madonna appeared to me in a dream a few years back. She still visits me often in that space. Other than some statutory and art frequented within many of my ancestral homes and some of my travels, I did not know much about this particular symbol of the Divine Mother. What I did learn is why perhaps the dream appeared to me – my Polish ancestors coming in to connect me with this energy. Since Galland was there during the rise of Solidarity, it gave me a peek into a historic thing that happened that I only saw as a young adult from way over in the United States.

As Galland points out in the story, Solidarity completely ignored the usual revolutionary process with its choice of nonviolence. Within her journey, the author also accounts for how a woman seeking the Divine Mother has even more battles to overcome. I was surprised by some of the blockers to women, especially those seeking to be leaders in Zen Buddhism. Galland’s deep spiritual search has the reader feeling the ache she has to find Tara. Anyone seeking the path to any feminine deity will find inspiration in Galland’s vulnerability within the prose. Additionally, she gives the reader an amazing peek into many different cultures and their journeys to the goddess. Thanks to this book, which I adored and will likely re-read at some point, I’m considering a pilgrimage to ancestral lands that held the spirit of the goddess close. 

Reading Now:

Wild Soul Runes: Reawakening the Ancestral Feminine by Lara Veleda Vesta

This book was a gift from a friend who knows my frustration with accessing spiritual literature about the tools I use in my Craft, particularly Runes, that are not colored by racism and bigotry. I don’t know why the Nazis love my lineage’s heathenry, but they do. I always laugh when I see that because do they even know Odin? Talk about Patron of Drag Queens. I’ve worked through about more than half of the book and there is a more witchy and inclusive viewpoint, even going so far as to note respectful practice on colonized land. She’s provided poetry, exercises, and multiple translations regarding the background of the Runes and the language around them. More to come after I finish.

Up Next:

Dream Witchery: Folk Magic, Recipes & Spells from South America for Witches & Brujas by Elhoim Leafar 

As a dreamworker myself I’m very excited to dive into this book. Truth be told I’m already working a bit through it and I’m fascinated by Leafar’s childhood in South America surrounded by magical practitioners. Already some beliefs and rituals are super interesting and make me feel like I’m on a solo expedition to uncover hidden magic. Can’t wait to dive in deeper. 

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!