Book Review: Mrs. B's Guide to Household Witchery

by: Kris Bradley

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble and Red Wheel/Weiser

Synopsis:
For domestic goddesses everywhere--add some magic and fun to those mundane household chores with Mrs. B.'s Guide to Household Witchery. Whether you're sweeping the floor, making a meal, or cleaning out that junk drawer, domestic witch Kris Bradley, creator of the popular blog, Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom, will show you how to create spells and magic to bring happiness and balance into your home. Bradley offers ideas and solutions to make the most out of everyday items, activities, and obligations. From Anchovies to Broccoli, and Wine to Yeast, from sweeping the floor to blow-drying your hair, you can change your outlook on life with a pinch of knowledge and a dash of magic! The book includes simple rituals, spells, and ways to connect with the spirits that watch over your home and family. Includes an appendix of herbs and a complete materia magica from the kitchen pantry.

Mrs. B's Guide to Household Witchery features:

• Room by Room: How to create magic while you cook, set up a family altar in the living room, or do a junk drawer divination
  
• The Elements for the Domestic Witch: a primer on the 4 elements and how to balance them in your home
  
• The Domestic Witch's Herbal: Magical uses for every herb and food in your pantry, as well as instant magic with prepackaged spice mixes
  
• Simple Sabbats for the Busy Witch: simple ways to celebrate the passing of the seasons
  
• Magical Recipes: More than 100 recipes and spells

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I'm so excited to write this review. I've been following Kris Bradley's blog Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom for a few years now, and also on Facebook. She's a thoughtful witch with so many well written articles out there in the cyber-world. I was so happy for her when she got this book deal, and after sitting down with my copy, I know she deserved it.

It's full of information that is written with a conversational tone. It makes it a fast and easy read. I went through the book in one sitting. Granted, I didn't scrutinize every bit, but I didn't miss much either. This is a keeper! The herbs and deity information she includes is priceless. I love cooking, and she encourages us to be mindful of the herbs we use to include a little magic in our everyday. I enjoyed going room to room and looking through all her ideas to add spirituality to every space in your home. I also enjoyed the family hearth and altar. Recognizing that most families don't have a fireplace anymore, she gives ideas to build your own hearth. This book lit a fire under me, and I have loads of ideas I now want to try in my own home.

I fully recommend this book to both new and experienced pagans. Going through this book, I felt the old flame I found reading Silver Ravenwolf and Scott Cunningham.

Book Review: Vampyre Magick

by: Father Sebastiaan

Available at Red Wheel/Weiser Bookstore, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:
Since the dawn of civilization, the vampire has danced through the dreams and nightmares of every culture, expressed in folklore, literature, and art. Today, this fascination resonates in pop-culture through hit television shows, movies, and bestselling books.

In Vampyre Magick, Father Sebastiaan reveals the hidden rituals and spells of the Living Vampires. This companion volume to Sebastiaan’s Vampyre Sanguinomicon, is intended for initiates of the Stigoii Vii, but will appeal to any scholar of magickal arts, The Golden Dawn, or other Western Mystery Traditions.

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I'm surprised at the gamut of emotions this book took me on, for a nonfiction piece. I was excited to get the book, then I couldn't believe he was serious, thought he was awesome and a few times a complete loon. I will try to give a honest review, but truly you have to decide for yourself. I'm not even fully sure of my opinion yet, so I'll just have to pick something.

It talks about being a vampyre in a more spiritual sense. It's not about immortality or any of the other vampire myths. It's about energizing yourself and having willing hosts. Blood is not often used, and Father Sebastiaan says to draw real blood there has to be such a commitment from the host that it's just not practical. The person would have to be quarantined for about 10 years before you could even draw from them, including lots of testing to make sure their blood is safe. So they generally stick with feasting on the life force of willing hosts. Can't stress that part enough, WILLING hosts. I love that he put so much detail and precautions in this book.

He does talk about immortality, but it's more about being able to leave this mortal coil and ascend to a fully spiritual level. Take this quote:

Vampyres of the Strigoi Vii Tradition see Themselves as part of a movement which promotes spiritual and philosophical evolution, which is deeply rooted in the soul, not just a specific singular religion or paradigm. Once Awakened there is no turning back; the Current is alive within the individual."

There is so much deep magick in this book, that I'm not even sure I believe in it. But that's a big part of what made this book so much fun. That and Father Sebastiaan's passion for the subject and the intelligent way he presents it.

Will I be practicing vampyre magick? Probably not, but the book was fascinating to read. So I should probably go with that for my stars.