Book Review: A Deed Without A Name

Book found here.

A Deed Without A Name: Unearthing the Legacy of Traditional Witchcraft by Lee Morgan is one of the best books on witchcraft that I have read in a long time. I could not put this book down and finished it within hours. This wonderful gem of a book is not about Wicca, it is about old world witchcraft. What some may call Sabbatical Witchcraft or Traditional Witchcraft. This is the witchcraft that Isobel Gowdie of witchcraft lore practiced.

Chapters like Marked as Other and Riding the Beast take you through the history of European witchcraft. Using excerpts from the witch trials Lee Morgan dissects the material to give her/his interpretation.

Scattered about the pages of this tome are exercises and example of ways to find your demon lover, ways to take witch flight, and how to discover your fetch beast. The sections on Calling to the Devil and A Rite of Necromancy are both very intriguing. One of my favorite chapters is The Bestiary. Many of the beasts listed are from the un-Seelie court.  The Appendix using planetary correspondences is very useful. I was very pleased to see the lists of "beasts" to use for each day of the week.

If you are looking for a book on Traditional Witchcraft that is not Wicca related, then this is the book  for you. It is for those who seek the "darker" side of the craft. I will be reading A Deed Without A Name many times.


Additional links

Moon Books

Lee Morgan


Happy Reading... Viv

News and a Poem

I have some wonderful news to share. I will be contributing an essay to an upcoming book on the Goddesses of the world. I have finished my essay and sent it to the publisher. I am so very excited about this. The goddess I wrote about is the Queen of Elphame. The working title for the book is Naming the Goddess by Moon Books Publishing to be published some time next year. I feel very honored to be included in this.

Here is a poem I wrote in honor of the Dark Queen/Queen of Elphame


Underworld Journey

Bound with ivy
Covered in moss
The Cave of the Ancients
Guards all that is Lost

The path winds downward
A labyrinth of  Death
The Dark Queen awaits
For those who are sent

On the Quest for Redemption
Through Rivers of Blood
They reach for Salvation
The Ones that we Love

The Thorns of White Roses
The Petals of Red
Entwined through eternity
Visions of Dread

The Queen of the Witches
Of Faery and Moon
Ask all who serve Her
For one little Boon

To speak the Truth
The tongue cannot lie
The Poets true Gift
Is never to Die

From the Underworld Queen
All seek true Freedom
To escape from the bonds
Of Personal Demons

The Dark Halls of Death
Hold all Life's Secrets
Unravel the Mystery
Let go of Regrets

That keep us from Destiny
The Paths that we Choose
Our Fate awaits
Those who will not Lose

Their way through the Labyrinth
Of Time and of Death
Freedom comes to us
As we draw our last Breath

Our Souls flow upwards
Through the Spirit of Life
The Cave of the Ancients
Guards all that is Right

Our new Life begins
As the Phoenix takes Flight
The Bards of Tomorrow
Inspirations Ignite

*Vivienne Moss*

Book Review: Kitchen Witchcraft

Book found here.

Kitchen Witchcraft by Rachel Patterson is a hands on guide to the magical side of witchcraft around the home. Full of ideas and recipes to spice up your home life, this easy to follow book is a gem and a must have for any kitchen or cottage witch. Rachel uses ingredients that you will sure to have in your kitchen cabinet.

In the book, there are chapters on the seasons and elements that will help you connect with the ever changing cycles of life. There are crafts and spells for just about everything. I especially love the Hot Foot Powder recipe. I have everything needed for it right at my fingertips.

There are no invocations or ritual magic in Kitchen Witchcraft. It is non-religious and full of practical magic. The spells and recipes are easy to adjust and Rachel gives plenty of correspondences from herbs, to colors and candle magic. Me being the odd number loving person that I am, will have to adjust a few of the spells calling for an even number of ingredients. I'm sure that will not be a problem.

I have a feeling I will be referring to Kitchen Witchcraft quite often. A big thumbs up to Rachel Patterson on this one!

Additional links

www.kitchenwitchhearth.com

www.kitchenwitchuk.blogspot.co.uk

Moon Books

Happy reading... Viv