Candlemas Books

So I have begun reading a two volume work by Martin Connell, to whose writing I have never had the pleasure of being introduced. I now have a great respect for Dr. Connell, for his book is hard to put down and the way that he has approached the calendar has brought me to the place where I am moved to think deeply about this topic. For he is not only talking about the calendar feasts, there history and meaning from what I would consider a normal academic perspective. Dr. Connell uses poetry and lyrics in his discussion; he talks first about time and how we mark time before he ever talks specifically or historically about a particular feast or season. He points out that how we mark time reveals what we value, and points to our social or religious identities. His work is simply fascinating, compelling and thought provoking. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to really understand how we can still today mark our time in movement of eternity and God's time.

Very informative and well written (as usual from Amber and Azrael!) This is one of the books from the series covering the Wheel of the Year quarter and cross quarter holidays. I like them all, but this is probably my favorite...but then, I am partial to Brigid. Highly recommended!

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.

This book will stir you as the days just start to get longer. Another full of rites, lore, and let's not forget all the recipes! Another recommended for your personal library.

I really loved this book. It had a really large amount of historical knowledge pertaining mostly to the goddess Brigid both as a goddess and as a saint. I loved the recipes. Alot of them are based on irish cuisine and I Think that the writer's made an honest attempt to make alot of the recipes using foods that would have been used thousands of years ago. Alot of the foods are au naturel of course which means they are good for you. I also enjoyed alot of the craft and divination and ritual ideas. I also liked the fact that the author's gave alot of tips on how to celebrate this great holiday with your family like if you have kid's and such. This was a valuble purhase with a high volume of information that I haven't read in any other book pertaining to the sabats. I highly recomend this book to any person who is wiccan/pagan that would like to bring more meaning and value into the celebration of the holidays and I also reccomend it to anyone who likes to study religion and history. Wonderful book. If I lost it I would buy it again.

Of all the titles in this series, this one was my favorite by far. These authors included a wide variety of fun and creative activities for Imbolc. They included several rituals, for single, small groups, and large groups. I wish they would write a book for each of the sabbats since their ideas and insights really brought this celebration to life for us. If you have read any of the other series titles and were disapointed by the weak content, give this one a try. I think it was really good.

Simon Proctor is a has been rock and roll star pretending to be a Satanist, and gets more than he bargained for. I read this book many years ago and it's one of the few books that I've read several times. It's a fun, fast paced read that makes other horror books look like a picnic in the park. Highly recommended, a must read for any serious horror fan. The ritual scene in the church is absolutely priceless!

Intriqued by the cover of this book, I decided to read it; however, instead of being terrifying, Candlemas Eve is a detailed porn novel.

Expecting to be horrified, I selected Candlemas Eve, only to be sheepish embarassed by the authors explicit sex in this novel. I am not saying I don't like sex in novels or movies, but this is PORN!

I am not offended by this novel, but am dissapointed the crux of the novel is porn, instead of bone chilling suspense.

Jeffery Sackett knows how to write a bestseller, write porn. Clever antics, origonally invented by Steven King, to attract teenager boys to buy trash.

Ozzy Osbourne, living proof that even someone who is borderline retarded can transmute themselves into a multi-millionare, was I believe the author's inspiration for the character Simon Proctor in this novel. Simon, like Ozzy Osbourne, is a middle-aged rock star catering his music to young teenage kids. Simon does not believe in satanism, like Ozzy Osbourne, but sings satanic lyrics on stage to get filthy rich. A fad many rockstars have caught onto. Singing about Satanism and witchcraft will make an entertainer a quick millionare, the more abhoring and shocking the lyrics are the better.

It has been a few months since I have read a poorly written book, I was way overdue. A novel with the most irrational and absurd plot. A minister of a church has a son who sings satanic songs to teenagers for a living, yet the minister has not ex-communicated his son and allows him to sleep in his own house! What I found so amusing is this minister goes around everyday condeming his son's actions, yet allows his son in his pressence, in his house, and even partakes in leisurely conversation with his son on a daily basis. I have met many ministers in my lifetime, but this guy has to be the epitome of a hypocrite; why would any christian want to go to his church?

I like to read a horror book now and then, but I cannot stand to read stupidity!

Heavy Metal meets old English limericks. This story is about a Metal band named "Witch's Sabbath", reminiscient of Ozzy Osbourne's Black Sabbath, who hook tails with a couple of reincarnated witches, who take the music unto eclectic soaring heights.

The character of Gwendalyn Jenkins is really admirable, in all her cruel, ruthless splendour. She loves Simon Proctor {an Ozzy-esque character}, who greatly reminds her of his ancestor, who was burned at the stake for being an Warlock, along with the two main witches, brought back to the earth by Satan, from Hell. She struck a deal to regain her long lost love, & now she finds her opportunity. & nothing will stop her from regaining what is hers!

A news reporter greatly described like Ol' Broken Nose geraldo rivera, makes a cameo appearance, although the name herein is Percy Campbell.

CANDLEMAS EVE is filled with plenty of lust, Magic, vengence, & dark humour. There are many situations Satanists will be able to relate to.

Mr. Sackett was wise to include the disclamer in the author's note, that there are no authentic Satanic rituals in the whole book, but there are some interesting ideas, that you may want to incorperate in your own practices.

CANDLEMAS EVE is basically designed to terrify the normals. I imagine it is quite effective.

Overall, CANDLEMAS EVE is very entertaining, & inspirational at times. One interesting & exciting situation to the next. Never a dull moment.

It should be clear by now that an author's high Bestseller status and popularity is not necessarily an automatic guarantee or indicator of literary quality. Stephen King, one of America's top-selling, wealthiest authors, is an often entertaining storyteller, but a mediocre writer, in my humble opinion. In contrast, few have probably heard of Mr. Sackett, or read his horror books, at least in comparison to the numbers of people who have consumed works by authors like King, or Koontz. And yet, ironically enough, Sackett's books are eminently, even compulsively, readable, with engaging characters, and exciting, erudite plots. Sackett knows his history, his mythology and folklore, but he never becomes pedantic, or "heavy." In Sackett's books, one encounters revived Egyptian mummies, Romanian vampires, tormented werewolves, the witches of Salem returning to life from the depths of Hell, and a demonic Indian spirit that materializes in an artsy college town in upstate New York. Mr. Sackett's style is nothing if not eclectic. Indeed, his books are often unpredictable and will keep you enthralled until you turn the very last page. Not everything works all the time; occasionally the human characters suffer from stereotyping as much as they do from the supernatural entities they encounter, and not all of Sackett's plot twists, inventive though they may be, work (for instance, I was never all that comfortable with some of the story developments in his "Mark of the Werewolf"). Is Mr. Sackett a writer of the stature of Poe or Lovecraft? No (who is?). Still, having said that, it's quite accurate to say that Mr. Sackett's books are rare, delightful treats, like those sometimes corny but wonderful horror movies you loved as a kid. In other words, you should make the effort and search them out. I can't say I read this book in one sitting, but I tried. In all probability, you'll find yourself, like me, wishing Mr. Sackett was more prolific, and that he would write as many books as Stephen King, or Dean Koontz. Considering the stale, trite works currently occupying space on the "Horror" shelves in most bookstores, books that inspire a yawn of boredom far more often than they do a shudder of fright, one can only ask- Mr. Sackett, where are you when we need you?

this was a book I red when I was in 9th grade. I couldnt put it down then and I still can not. you'll read this one over and over. The witches are so evil, but at the same time you fall in love with their charecters. keeps you turning pages.If your lucky enough to find a copy still it's a good read.

From back cover:

"This book, the first and most popular of four volumes, is a marvelous and indispensable treasury of Scottish folklore and folk belief from the world of Celtic magic, gods and fairies, to the prophecies of the Brahan seer, second sight, witchcraft, earth magic, selkies, changelings and a host of traditional spells and cures.

'The Silver Bough' involved many years of research into both living and recorded folklore. Its genesis lies perhaps in the author's need to reconcile the old primitive world she had glimpsed in her Orkney childhood, with the sophisticated modern world she later entered. This much loved and highly regarded book has been unavailable for many years. As the first edition in paperback it will delight not only a new audience but folklore enthusiasts from whose shelves it has been absent for too long."

F. Marian McNeill, in the tradition of Alexander Carmichael (Carmina Gadelica) and Anne Ross' The Folklore of the Scottish Highlands, has done an immense service in her writing The Silver Bough Series. These books are currently out of print, unfortunately. If you can find a copy of the first volume you will not be sorry. Little known are the other three volumes which explore a number of very ancient Scottish customs and beliefs, from Selkirk to Orkney to the Isle of Mull to Aberdeen and Fife, which survive to the present day in many cases. In an era of "Celtic" insta-books some of these classical ethnographic sources are deeply refreshing.

This book is excellent for ethnologists and the curious alike! Although it is out of print, it is a book worth finding! Written in 4 volumes, each takes a look at different parts of the Scottish folk beliefs -from witchcraft and second sight, to songs and stories told over time, this book has it all, and in an easy to read-straight forward fashion. Definitely a book for anyone remotely interested in Scotland or non-christian customs!