Litsy

The Goddess Path: Myths, Invocations & Rituals | Patricia Monaghan

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I didn‘t expect to get through this book so fast. But I really enjoyed it and found myself making time to read a chapter or so each day. There is a lot in here about reclaiming the goddess oath and our feminine power.

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forestandcrow

The Way of Fire and Ice: The Living Tradition of Norse Paganism | Ryan Smith

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Loved this one. Easy to listen to

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monalyisha

The Witching Year: A Memoir of Earnest Fumbling Through Modern Witchcraft | Diana Helmuth

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I 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. 5d

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

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forestandcrow

Way of Fire and Ice: The Living Tradition of Norse Paganism | Ryan Smith

Really excited that spotify has this audio book. My library won't buy it or get the audiobook. The struggle of small libraries.

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Darklunarose

The Goddess Path: Myths, Invocations & Rituals | Patricia Monaghan

I‘m working on it.

Bookwomble ❤️ 2w

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monalyisha

The Witching Year: A Memoir of Earnest Fumbling Through Modern Witchcraft | Diana Helmuth

When I picked this up, I didn‘t even realize it was blurbed by AJ Jacobs and partially inspired by his book, “The Year of Living Biblically,” which is my *favorite.*

I can‘t express how much this is all resonating. ✨

Currently reading in a coastal cabin while wind, rain, and waves rage in the darkest night outside my door. Getting the sparkly star-shaped ceiling light; fresh, aromatic wood; and the animal skull in the shot just felt right.

AnnCrystal I am loving your ceiling and star-light 🤩, beautiful!

Read somewhere that the starshape symbolized time travel, and formed in crystal, it could transport the holder across time. Don't know if that was something written in the Spirit of Fantasy or once believd by an ancient people, either way I fell in love with the shape ever since. I know, I'm wacky 😂. (edited) 2w

Cortg I have a light like that in my foyer by the front door. Never thought of it as spooky 👻 Enjoy your spooky/cozy evening! It sounds delightful. 2w

monalyisha @Cortg Ha! You know, I didn‘t even think of my description as “spooky” but I suppose it might be interpreted that way! 2w

TheBookHippie I read the ARC of this I enjoyed it very much. 2w

Suet624 Sounds like a wonderful place to be. 2w

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