June 2023 MBR The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Awakening Osiris
Normandi Ellis
New Page Books
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser
www.redwheelweiser.com
9781637480106, $18.95, PB, 240pp

https://www.amazon.com/Awakening-Osiris-Spiritual-Keys-Egyptian/dp/1637480105

Synopsis: The Egyptian Book of the Dead is one of the oldest and greatest classics of Western spirituality. With the publication of "Awakening Osiris: The Spiritual Keys to the Egyptian Book of the Dead", spiritualist minister and certified clairvoyant medium Normandi Ellis has transformed the ancient stories told through hieroglyphs for modern readers. She approaches the Book of the Dead as a profound spiritual text capable of speaking to us today.

These writings suggest that the divine realm and the human realm are not altogether separate; they remind us that the natural world (the substance of our lives) is fashioned from the stuff of the gods. This new paperback edition from New Page Books features a new introduction and study guide by the author.

Critique: Fascinating, iconoclastic, informative, challenge, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Awakening Osiris: The Spiritual Keys to the Egyptian Book of the Dead" is an extraordinary and welcome contribution to the personal reading lists of anyone with an interest in the Egyptian Book of the Dead. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Metaphysical Studies collections, it should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in New Age Mythology & Mysticism that "Awakening Osiris: The Spiritual Keys to the Egyptian Book of the Dead" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Normandi Ellis (https://normandiellis.com) is an award-winning writer, workshop facilitator, and archpriestess of the Fellowship of Isis. She leads tours to Egypt and is the author and co-author of several books, including Hieroglyphic Words of Power, The Union of Isis and Thoth, and Imagining the World into Existence.

Communicating with Plants
Jen Frey
Bear & Company
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
9781591434597, $24.00, PB, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Communicating-Plants-Heart-Based-Practices-Connecting/dp/1591434599

Synopsis: The underlying message from Jen Frey, the author of "Communicating with Plants: Heart-Based Practices for Connecting with Plant Spirits" is that everyone has an innate ability to consciously communicate with Plants. Jen maintains that if we are willing to listen, we can hear the Plants speaking to our Hearts and teaching us how to heal. With the support of our Plant allies, we can be our truest selves and remember our intrinsic wholeness.

Presenting a step-by-step guide, "Communicating with Plants" shows how to awaken your ability to directly receive the unique wisdom and healing gifts that the Plants want to offer you. Exploring how communicating with Plants is more like a communion than an exchange of words, "Communicating with Plants" describes how the primary language we share with Plants is through the Heart, and shows how Plant communication brings an expansion of Heart intelligence and emotional growth.

In the pages of "Communicating with Plants", Jen goes on to explain the synergistic process of moving into intimacy with a Plant Spirit and shares how the Plants help us overcome anxiety, grief, fears, and limiting beliefs and teach us to trust, forgive, embrace self-love, and enjoy the sweetness of life.

Sharing teachings she has received from a variety of Plants such as Yarrow, Mugwort, Maple, Dandelion, Poison Ivy, and Japanese Hops, Jen follows each Plant ally's wisdom with a step-by-step activity or practice that allows you to actualize the teaching in an immediate way. She includes both native and invasive Plants because the concept of "invasive" is alien in the context of Plant Spirits and each of them has valuable lessons to share. She then concludes with Tulsi, showing how this Plant is essential to helping us recover our sacred nature, especially in a time of great Earth changes.

The promise is that through the skills taught in this DIY guide, we each can connect our Hearts with the wisdom of Plant Spirits, have support and guidance whenever we need it, and learn new ways of living in a co-creative partnership with Nature.

Critique: Fascinating, informative, insightful, inspiring, "Communicating with Plants: Heart-Based Practices for Connecting with Plant Spirits" is an original, distinctive, and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library New Age Metaphysical Studies collections. For anyone with an interest in the subject of plants, herbal remedies and spiritual/metaphysical oriented self-help/self-improvement, "Communicating with Plants: Heart-Based Practices for Connecting with Plant Spirits" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99).

Editorial Note: Jen Frey (https://www.brigidsway.com/meet-jen-frey) is a healer and mentor with more than 20 years of experience with Plant essences, energy work, and herbal practices. The founder of Brigid's Way and co-steward of Heart Springs Sanctuary, she has dedicated her life to the spiritual path of Plant work.

Tarot Magick
Lindsay Squire, author
Viki Lester, illustrator
Leaping Hare Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9780711280649, $20.00, Card Deck, 176pp

https://www.amazon.com/Tarot-Magick-Discover-yourself-through/dp/0711280649

Synopsis: The ever expanding world of tarot cards is swirling with rich meaning, symbolism and secrets waiting to reveal themselves. Whether you're new to witchcraft, tarot, or both, "Tarot Magick" by the team of tarot authority Lindsay Squire and artist/illustrator Viki Lester is an ideal beginner's guide to the study of tarot magick.

Included are stunning illustrations from The Witch of the Forest's very own Tarot Magick deck visually enhancing the easy-to-learn information, the in-depth exploration of meanings and symbolism of every card, the develop your intuitive tarot skills, and the improvement of your wellness practice through the power of witchcraft and tarot.

Tarot students and novice practitioners will learn how to: Interpret all 78 cards in the modern tarot deck; Understand the difference between the 'Major' and 'Arcana' cards, including the difference between a pentacle, wand, sword and cup card; Note the importance of the element, zodiac signs and planet in astrology associated with each card; Explore the significance of numerology in tarot; Practice a tarot 'spread' and give yourself a tarot reading; Incorporate tarot into your witchy and wellbeing practice; Give a tarot reading for friends and family -- and so much more!

The book's jacket can also be flipped and used to practice a simple three-card-spread.

With recipes, rituals and tips and tricks taken from The Witch of the Forest's personal grimoire, with "Tarot Magick" you can learn how to use the cards as part of spells, to help you understand yourself better, and to improve your self-love practice.

Critique: Providing the perfect introduction to Tarot and underscored by enchanting, empowering, and featuring spellbinding museum quality artwork, "Tarot Magic" is part of The Witch of the Forest's Guide to... series from Leaping Hare Press covering everything you need to know to begin and thrive on your own tarot driven Wiccan and metaphysical journey. It should be noted that "Tarot Magick" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note #1: Lindsey Squires (https://thewitchoftheforest.co.uk) is a practitioner of eclectic Witchcraft and has been walking her own spiritual path for nearly 15 years. A Witch, an author, a professional tarot reader, a spiritual advisor, and the face behind the Instagram account, The Witch of the Forest (an account dedicated to helping those at the beginning of their Witchcraft journey), she has come to find a deep passion for helping Witches find empowerment through nature and the practice of magick.

Editorial Note #2: Vicki Lester (https://www.instagram.com/forensicsandflowers) is a veteran illustrator of metaphysical and other genre works.

Flower Magic of the Druids
Jon G. Hughes
Destiny Books
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
9781644116395, $22.99, PB, 200pp

https://www.amazon.com/Flower-Magic-Druids-Potions-Enchantments/dp/1644116391

Synopsis: Flowers are found in magic traditions around the world, ranging from those in ancient Egypt, China, and India to the traditions of the Norse and Native Americans. Yet many of today's well-established flower traditions (like bridal bouquets) originated in the Druidic magical lore of Wales, Ireland, and Scotland.

With the publication of "Flower Magic of the Druids: How to Craft Potions, Spells, and Enchantments", fifth-generation Druid Jon G. Hughes explains that flowers hold a preeminent position in Druidic folk magic with their own special branch of magical workings. In this practical guide, Hughes details how to use flowers in magical practice, focusing on flowering plants with a long history of magical use going back to Druidic times yet many of which are commonly found throughout the world, such as buttercup, blackberry, and dog rose.

He also discusses what type of flower and form of flower magic is best for specific enchantments and rituals in the areas of love and sex magic, well-being and good fortune, and protection. He looks at the magical use of fresh flowers and provides detailed instruction on every stage of the harvesting, crafting, and practical use of flower magic potions, including a comprehensive herbarium of all the flowers that may be used.

Examining the complex relationship between flowers and bees, the author looks at the physical and spiritual gifts of bees, such as honey, propolis, and beeswax, and the importance of bee culture in Druidic flower magic, including the tradition of the honeymoon, the significance of the hexagon, and medieval beekeeper lore. Inviting you into the gentle yet powerful realm of Druidic flower magic, "Flower Magic of the Druids" also details how to plan, plant, and take care of your own magical flower garden with all the botanicals you will need to pursue the path of flower magic.

Critique: Of special interest to students of flower based magic in general, Druid magic in particular, "Flower Magic of the Druids: How to Craft Potions, Spells, and Enchantments" by Jon G. Hughes is enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of a section of full color photographs and is deftly organized into three major sections: The Ancient Art of Flower Magic; Flower Magic Workbook; The Druid's Garden. Exceptionally well written and presented, "Flower Magic of the Druids" is an especially recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college library Metaphysical Studies collections. It should be noted for students, academia, and Druid practitioners that "Flower Magic of the Druids" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).

Editorial Note: Jon G. Hughes (https://www.innertraditions.com/author/jon-g-hughes) is part of a lineage of Druids that has been practicing for five generations in a remote area of Wales. He teaches the tradition in Ireland and gives workshops and seminars throughout Europe. He is the director of the Irish Centre for Druidic Practices and the author of several books, including A Druid's Handbook to the Spiritual Power of Plants and The Druidic Art of Divination. He lives in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland.

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