Beltane Books

Truly a wonderful and needful book for every Pagan. Tons of fantastic Cauldron receipes, which desperately needed to be written. I am so thrilled to finally have a Cauldron spell book that is jammed packed with lots of spells, potions and more. This book is now one of my favorites and would recommend every Pagan, Wiccan and Druid to get this. Written from the heart and so easy to read and understand as well. Thank you.

This is honestly the BEST book I have read on Witchcraft in a long time. This book is filled with nothing but some of the best spells, fixes and great conjuring.

Personally, the cauldron has always been my favorite tool to use in my spell casting -- so I thought, why not check what this book is made of? Great spells for everything from brewing a great love potion, to conjuring protection, conjuring abundance, conjuring protection -- to brewing great mixtures for anything you can think of. Literally spell after spell. I find myself referring back to it for spells all the time now.

Much Love & Many Blessings,
Thorn Nightwind

This is a wonderful book - packed with spells and potions for every situation, and the first book I've seen devoted to using a cauldron. Whatever you may need to do, be it blessing, healing, protecting, or banishing, you can find a spell in here. Spiritual bath recipes are included. There is even the occasional soup recipe! This is a must-have reference book for every kitchen witch's library! I'm looking forward to more works from this author.

This book is an excellent primer for Wiccans just starting on the path who want more than a non-fiction how-to book. It's also good for non-Pagans curious about the Wiccan religion and way of life. I found it to be a great addition to my collection Wiccan books.

This is what I've been looking for to explain to my non wiccan friends what it is I believe. What better way than a story that incorporates the sabbats and other rituals into everyday life? Thank you, Selene. I'll be looking for more of your books.

This book is an excellent primer for Wiccans just starting on the path who want more than a non-fiction how-to book. It's also good for non-Pagans curious about the Wiccan religion and way of life. I found it to be a great addition to my collection Wiccan books.

This is a futuristic novel about a man and woman who fall in love and celebrate the seasons with beautifully described sabbat ceremonies. The love story and other relationships are somewhat unrealistic and overly sweet at times. Otherwise, the writing style is pleasant and the paganism of the characters is well-described.

This pleasant story is the kind that takes me away into another world, where one is just completely captivated by the characters and the story (what any good work of fiction will do!) I found great pleasure in the love between the two main characters. It was very inspiring to experience so much love, via Julian and Fiona. It seemed so real that I found myself wondering if this was in some ways the author's own story. The Pagan elements, the Wiccan holidays, ways to celebrate and mark major life events: marriage (handfasting) birth, death, ceremonial visitations from the dead (a "Dumb Supper") and more, are all here. This is much more than a great way to teach non-Pagans about the lovely holidays of Wicca. This is a great love story. Highly recommended.

Sorry I bought this, would rather go back and read the old Emily Loring and Barbara Cartland novels from the 60's.

I actually read this book before the first one in the series, so perhaps my opinion of it is a little skewed, but I loved this book. I liked Damian more than Jullian! I did like 'A Restless Knight', but I appreciated the heroine in this story much better because she wasn't perfect. I appreciate when romance heroines are not flawlessly beautiful people. I can definitely relate to feeling outshined by those perfectly beautiful people in the world, so I liked relating to her on that level. All in all, I thought Damian was hot and I loved his relentless teasing!

Deborah MacGillivray is a keeper and I can't wait for her next book!

Great book!!! I couldn't put it down. I will definitely buy more books by this author. The book was in good condition.

okay, this book is better than some are saying. it had a great hero and a feisty heroine. they had a combustible relationship. i just laugh at the fact that aithine had an issue with her freckles. thought it was great.

Drugging a person to have sex is a crime. I don't care what the time period or how noble the reason it is wrong. If that had been a man drugging a woman how would those of you who enjoyed the book felt about it then? For me its a totalturn off and I am glad I read the reviews before wasting my hard earned cash on something like this.

This book is a lot of fun and interesting. I have learned things about Beltane I did not know before.

Each Llewellen book has a cool introduction about the history of the holiday. I recommend all the sabbat books in this series - - they have a lot more information than in any individual sabbat book.

May brings thoughts of celebration and embracing the power of nature. Many cultures today continue to hold May Day festivals that include a Maypole. We see it as a symbol of spring, but what does this tradition mean? Where did it originate and what is the purpose? Raven Grimassi explains it all, and so much more in Beltane: Springtime Rituals, Lore & Celebration.

Today's society is one that often shies away from coexisting with nature. Many are not even aware of the glory mid spring, blooming in its entire splendor, because they work in offices all day, or dwell in cities where little is seen of the signs. As a whole, we have gotten off track from our synchronicity with nature, and we can all benefit from trying to remedy this.

May Day celebrations, today, are a way of putting that honor for Mother Nature back into our lives. But it all began in ancient fertility festivals. May Day has a wonderfully rich history and this book explains it all, from the Maypole to the Beltane fire. So who were these festivals for, originally? In honor of many! The Green Man, a symbol of life, fertility and growth, is just one of the many spirits of May that are brought into the light here.

A spring evening bonfire wouldn't be complete without stories of little people, and Raven shares many for you to pass on. Hikes through ever greening forests just wouldn't be the same if we didn't imagine the faeries peeking from behind woodland blooms. The warmer weather turns our thoughts to Mother Nature's helpers, since ancient times. Here you will find many stories and legends that are delightful to read and reflect on. For those with green thumbs, the book includes lists of flowers and their meanings, trees and their associations to faeries and plants associated with goddesses. You will be well learned in the meanings behind your greenery and will be able to plant special gardens that are rich with lore.

What festival or even a quiet celebration would be complete without spells and recipes to try? Attracting love in spring is a tradition we cannot deny. "In the spring, a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love," Tennyson tells us. Why not try it? A serenity spell might be just what is needed to face final exams. Recipes for custard and May wine are just the things to begin your own personal celebration. If you are new to the old rituals, complete instructions are provided to help you honor Mother Nature, either on your own or in a group, even including directions for decorations.

Beltane, or May Day, is celebrated around the world. There are many traditions to choose from. However you celebrate, Raven Grimassi's book can help you understand and enjoy the holiday, and embrace the warmer weather that everyone welcomes.

Raven Grimassi is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. He writes about many traditions and will show similarities to help you understand where and how these traditions began. Whether you're just researching or Wiccan, I would recommend this and any of this author's books. Yet another to add to your library.

Grimassi usually tackles a much broader scope of subject matter and by limiting himself to Beltane he has undertaken a task that might seem outside his usual habits. But he pulls it off with good writing and capable research. By limiting himself to specifics of the Sabbat he is forced to narrow his focus more than is his wont, but what he does write about, he writes about well and thoroughly. To be honest, the entire Llewellyn Sabbat series has seemed kind of light-handed, so I can't call this Grimassi's finest hour, but it's still quite good for the kind of book it is.

Yes, I am a Harry Potter fan, big time. Now you know! I am also a practicing eclectic Witch. While I was not expecting J.K. Rowling's writing style to jump out of these pages, I was hoping for at least some excitement. To me, this book is incredibly boring, and I am forcing myself to finish it, a few pages at a time. Yes, it does have its moments, and its information, but it is, for the most part, a very drawn-out book to read. The philosophical treatises are generally very dry and overly complex, Morgan is a one-dimensional character, and the majority of the other characters have no character at all. I would, by no means, call this a follow-up tome for "the graduates of Hogwarts." That is a "lure" that should NOT be used to entice/gain buyers/readers. I'm eternally grateful that I did not pay full price for this book. What a waste of money that would've been. If I had seen it in a bookstore, and had had an opportunity to look through it more thoroughly, I would NEVER have bought it. I would not recommend this book to anyone, really -- unless they were seeking a potential aid for insomnia!

The truth is, if you aren't into Wicca, New Age, fantasy or even science fiction, this book will probably not draw you in as Harry Potter does to most people.

I have to admit that this is an excellent textbook covering subjects that the Wiccan religion claims as its own. That's okay, Wiccans will be thrilled.

The average, or non-Wiccan (that is not to say non-witch) reader just looking for a Potter-buzz is in for a dandy cure for insomnia. This may be a great textbook, but it's a poor excuse for engaging fiction.

That's not the worst problem. The very worst is that this author seemed to think that she could pluck various characters out of mythology and/or pagan traditions and cram as many as she could onto a page and VOILA -- instant characters. It doesn't work that way. The book ends up sounding like a description of a Wiccan runway show: everyone's a cardboard cut-out "model person"(be they good or bad) and ultimately they all begin to look the same.

Except for the lead character. He's just annoying. But that doesn't mean he has a personality, because he doesn't. Worse, the "voice" of this character is more that of a woman guessing about men than the actual voice of a young man. Getting inside the mind of a character of the opposite gender is a gift that few writers possess. J.K. Rowling has it. Apparently Tamarin Laurel does not.

The other big problem is the dialogue. People -- and I suspect even your average, garden-variety mythological characters -- don't talk the way they do in this book. Everyone at Ezmereld parades around displaying their profound wisdom, insight, and encyclopedic knowledge, even on the most banal subjects. For instance, I'd hate to have to ask someone at Ezmereld where the bathroom is; the answer may very well be 10 pages of, "why did you ask that question? Go away and comtemplate the answer in a beautiful place on these idyllic grounds and come back when you've had an epiphany....blah, blah, blah." Then the tale would go on to include at least a half dozen glorious creatures popping up mysteriously to ask more questions, be gorgeous, be mysterious, and just plain be a long-winded pain in the rear. At least 15 pages later, the whereabouts of the bathroom would remain a mystery.

All in all, if you're into Wicca (or fantasy novels, or even science fiction), you will likely adore this book. If; you're not, wait for Rowling's next Potter book. Rowling entertains but does not teach magic (she does teach other things, however); for the majority of us, this book does the opposite.

Ok, first of all, I'm not a Harry Potter fan. Let's just get that out of the way, and let me add that the people who were looking for a book similar to Harry need to find something else and have to realize Tamarin was never intending for this to be Harry Potter-esque AT ALL!!!! Ok, now that I've gotten that off my chest....if you app[roach this book with the open minded thought that this will NOT be like Harry Potter, I think you will be wonderfully surprised. It is written in a style that lets anyone feel as if they are actually taking the journey themselves. And, along with that, the reader does actually take a journey: into themselves and their magick. The book gives us a chance to look at outselves and everything around us, without sounding preachy or religious, and while entertaining us with the great characters you meet. Overall, a terrific book for entertainment and one that makes you proud to be Wiccan/a witch/Pagan and wanting to explore more.

This is an excellent story of a boy's journey of self-discovery. It is a relaxing read and very enjoyable. The approach that the author takes with the plot with embrace you and will not let go until the very last word. If you are a practitioner of magick or if you are getting started you will find exercises in the back of the book that will aid you in your own journey of self-discovery and self-knowledge. I would give this book 100 stars if I could. Simply a must read.

A wonderful journey. More that a read this book is a treasure trove of journal ideas. Read it as a novel or take a good look at yourself

The Orphan's Survival Guide was a nice book which focused on the unguided magi of Mage the Ascension. I enjoyed this book a lot since it didn't focus on the battlefields of the Ascension war, but on the day-to-day struggles of magi in the concrete jungle. Yes the monsters that plague the modern World of Darkness was discussed but the book showed that an adversary can be a mere mortal and still pose a serious threat.

The best sections of the book included the bit on the Hollow Ones and the various magical paradigms utilized by magi who are unaffiliated with the established groups. Light on systems and mechanics the sections focused on the philosophies and beliefs necessary to help new players get started.

Survival was the focus of the book as opposed to Ascension Wars and personal Ascension itself. This was reflected in the spell list section. Many of the spells focused on practicality as opposed to out-right destruction and ethereal realm traveling.

A good companion to Destiny's Price and Mage Revised, the Orphans' Survival Guide will help storytellers and players alike. All PCs, regardless of their affiliations with the Traditions or Technocracy will find this book useful because it provides useful information on the nitty-gritty details needed to run a street campaign. Not all players or adversaries need to be bad-ass Nephandi or Marauders, nor do all games have to take place in the Umbra or a mystical land. This book will show you all the horrors that are right in the city and the Orphan magi that have to deal with them.

Amidst the plethora of truly unimpressive books White Wolf hasbeen putting out over the past couple years, there are actually a fewworth purchasing. If your interests lie in running a "street level" Mage game, this is one of them.

Picking up where Outcasts left off, this book takes an in-depth look at the lives, attitudes, and spirituality of the Orphans and manages to present material that's both new and useful. The lessons from characters at the beginning, and the more analytical look at Orphans near the end, can be good inspiration in your own game as well.

Unfortunately, as with most WW books, the vast majority of the pregenerated characters, templates, settings, and rotes in the book are dull and smack of a 'look how original I am!' attitude. Worse, there are far too many sections in this book where the authors feel the need to talk down to the reader. In fact, this tiresome trend has become increasingly prevalent in all WW books lately.

Lastly, well, it's the art. It's not bad, as such, just mediocre. Another trend in WW books in recent days.

Overall, my complaints with the book are largely aesthetic and don't nearly outweigh the valuable information and inspiration you can find. As long as you can put up with a little snottiness and the other typical WW...you'll probably enjoy this book. In short, I highly recommend it.

Well, okay, you might get turned off by some of the content, thats okay, its the WoD, your supposed to be uncomfortable, anyways, it is very, very good, and may give you a brand new prespective on mage, like it did to me, buy it, read it, and you will begin to see Mage through Orphan eyes...

If you're interested in the "orphan lifestyle" the book is fantastic. Great info on a true street-level game. However, it doesn't make the orphans more interesting or complex. No new character enhancements. Don't buy it if you're looking for a way to make orphans more appealing as a character option. Buy it if your looking for the harsh reality of orphan life.

Amidst the plethora of truly unimpressive books White Wolf has been putting out over the past couple years, there are actually a few worth purchasing. If your interests lie in running a "street level" Mage game, this is one of them.

Picking up where Outcasts left off, this book takes an in-depth look at the lives, attitudes, and spirituality of the Orphans and manages to present material that's both new and useful. The lessons from characters at the beginning, and the more analytical look at Orphans near the end, can be good inspiration in your own game as well.

Unfortunately, as with most WW books, the vast majority of the pregenerated characters, templates, settings, and rotes in the book are dull and smack of a 'look how original I am!' attitude. Worse, there are far too many sections in this book where the authors feel the need to talk down to the reader. In fact, this tiresome trend has become increasingly prevalent in all WW books lately.

Lastly, well, it's the art. It's not bad, as such, just mediocre. Another trend in WW books in recent days.

Overall, my complaints with the book are largely aesthetic and don't nearly outweigh the valuable information and inspiration you can find. As long as you can put up with a little snottiness and the other typical WW garbage, you'll probably enjoy this book. In short, I highly recommend it.

Wow. I was excited to read these books and they were both beyond disappointing. I'm guessing it makes sense to the authors inner circle and that's about it. Returned the books.

I think, after reading both of these books (Book One covers Samhain to Ostara), the author sums up the Wheel of the Year and it's approach to our spirituality very nicely with these words:

"The more things change, the more things stay the same." Have you heard that before? Sure you have. I think that turning it around makes it even more true from Wicca's perspective: "The more things stay the same, the more they change." This is certainly true in the way Wicca celebrates the season of life. Even when we conduct our Sabbats with the same script every years, whether we read it or memorize it, even when we meet in the same place at the same time and bring to our feasts the same foods, we are not reliving old moments, we are living new ones."

Ashleen O'Gaea presents in her second book on the "Seasons of Life" her perspectives and her connections of Beltane to Mabon. The book is laid out as her previous one, with the Sabbats listed, and each having four "chapters" each on Lore, Rituals, Activities and Symbols.

Each holiday is explored not so much from the history and origins, but from the present day aspects of the holiday; how it is celebrated today. She examines some background to the holiday and how that has become part of the celebrations we have today. She examines the Sabbat in it's connection to the previous Sabbat and the next. The main purpose here is to look at and explore the interconnectedness of each of these holidays, how they relate with each other; you can not separate each from the other.

Again, too, Ms. O'Gaea explores modern rituals. We have traditional rituals, like the Maypole dance, and we have children's rituals, such as the Morning Ritual for Two Year Olds (and inner children). There are rituals for Covens and for Solitaries and even a notation on working with non-pagans in ritual. And then there is my favorite, the "Consecration for Sunscreen" which will prevent "burnt offerings" during summer rituals.

Activities looks at those things we do which connect us with these holidays. Fairy flags at Beltane, Sun Wheels for Litha, recipies for blueberry corn muffins for Lammas and mushroom and barley soup for Mabon. There are many more activities and recipes, and each is appropriate to the season.

There is also the symbolism within the "big three" pagan religions (Druid, Asatru and Wicca) and these Sabbast and Ms. Ogaea presents some interesting connections. We have Fairy Rings at Beltane, Druid Fire for Litha, Wiccan Bread for Lammas and Runes at Mabon.

The two books together present an interesting and sometimes challenging look at the seasonal Wheel of the Year, and life, and give some food for thought about how we celebrate, live, embrace and discover the seasons each year. We are given a wide open look at who we are now, rather than were we came from. We see how we have adapted from many sources, and how we have incorporated those things which help us to connect to the earth, the seasons and our chosen spiritualities both as individuals and as groups.

This is a lovely set of books, easy to read and providing many chances to consider, ponder and discover what our spirituality is and what we mean when we say "Celebrating the Seasons of Life". boudica