The Witching Year: A Memoir of Earnest Fumbling Through Modern Witchcraft | 
pickI usually read a novel alongside my nonfic. I became so singularly obsessed with reading this memoir, however, that I skipped the novel entirely. I even felt compelled to underline this baby. I bought a special pencil and everything. 😅
The author & I are definitely kindred. Despite being soul-twins, there‘s plenty we *don‘t* have in common. She hates water while my childhood nickname was Alyish the Feesh 🐟. 👇🏻
monalyisha 1/6: She can‘t sit still; I live to laze. She hates October while I feel much like Anne (glad to live in a world with them) — as long as I can put my thoughts about the approaching winter out of my head long enough to actually live in the moment. 6d
monalyisha 2/6: Still, we have the same spiritual drive and seem to experience the same discomfort about the earnestness of our longing. We deflect with skepticism and humor while continuing to yearn, and, occasionally, we manage to express that yearning when we‘re feeling especially honest and brave. We‘re also roughly the same age, so we share cultural touchstones (like Ferngully, Buffy, and Practical Magic). 6d
monalyisha 3/6: Weirdly, despite the lengthy bibliography, I don‘t feel like I learned much about witchcraft. I don‘t blame Helmuth for this, however. It‘s the same way I felt after completing my Religious Studies major in undergrad. There‘s just so much history, philosophy, and content. Even a year (or 4!) of concentrated study leaves you barely skimming the surface. (edited) 6d
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monalyisha 4/6: I‘ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes (and there are many): “If the Christian serenity prayer is ‘God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference,‘ the Witch‘s serenity prayer is probably… 6d
monalyisha 5/6: “Goddess grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I think I can‘t, and enough candles on hand to make a difference.” 6d
monalyisha 6/6: I can‘t say this is a *perfect* memoir but it‘s pretty damn good. And it‘s exactly my jam. 6d
TheBookHippie I read the ARC and loved it! 6d
monalyisha @TheBookHippie I was fascinated by her conversations with Oberon Zell-Ravenheart about story, and about identifying as “spiritual but not religious” vs. “religious but not spiritual” (and how the latter talk didn‘t go as expected). I definitely don‘t see myself becoming a convert or anything like that but I‘d love to read more about/by him. 6d
Sace Well you‘ve convinced me. I will be ordering this in the near future. 6d
TheBookHippie @Sace It‘s good. 5d
TheBookHippie @monalyisha I am spiritual and familial traditions of my grandma -and NOT RELIGIOUS(😝) So I enjoyed that part . I like it when books make you think. 5d
monalyisha @TheBookHippie Oh, I definitely always say the line, too (“spiritual but not religious”), so it was interesting that he framed it as spirit vs matter, and made “religion” more about ritual & the body. Flipped the script on us all a little bit! 5d
TheBookHippie @monalyisha Exactly because ritual is in my life . I really did enjoy this book! I think so many would like it but it seems not well known. @Chrissyreadit & @BookwormAHN would like it I think. And many more. 5d
Chrissyreadit @TheBookHippie @monalyisha It is on my shelf- i will dust it off and read it since both of you are recommending. Maybe @BookwormAHN would be interested in a “buddy read” with me. 5d
Chrissyreadit @monalyisha I don‘t know what I am anymore- but nature and ritual (with candles) are my guide these days. I def lean feminist pagan if it were defined. 5d
Clare-Dragonfly Wow, I‘m really intrigued by the conversation with Oberon Zell-Ravenheart. Even if the whole rest of the book is stuff I‘ve heard before (I‘ve been a witch for most of my life), that part is probably worth the price of admission. 5d
Christine I am adding this in spirit to your 2024 list bc I will want to get to it sooner than later! 😁 5d
BookwormAHN @Chrissyreadit Definitely, it sounds really interesting 5d
BookwormAHN @TheBookHippie Thanks, this sounds really good 5d
TheBookHippie @BookwormAHN I think you‘ll love it. 5d
