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Book Reviews
Owen O’Shea, Stay-At-Home Dad, Wannabe Detective
By: C. McGee - Roundfire Books - $24.95

Overview: Sleuthing may be hard, but parenting is harder!

Sometimes parenting sucks, especially at the beginning. There’s too little sleep and too much butt wiping. Fortunately, new dad Owen O’Shea has a brilliant wife and great friends to help him out. He also has a cozy wingback to sit in and a big window to look out from, two small comforts that make those 3 a.m. feedings a hell of a lot easier … at least at first.

Verdict: It’s during one of those wee-hour feedings when Owen witnesses suspicious activity across the way that seems less idyllic-suburban-cul-de-sac and more daytime-drama-meets-high-intrigue-thriller.

His curiosity piqued, Owen decides to do what any calm, responsible parent would: dive recklessly into an investigation that is either wildly off-base or life-threateningly true.

Are his neighbors innocent suburbanites or murderous psychopaths? Either way, he’s probably screwed!

In what is a truly fascinatingly sculpted new novel, author C. McGee has brought forth one of those books that life used to lovingly describe as a page turner. One where you lay there at night, ready for sleep, but once a chapter has been done, you tease yourself into just starting a new one to see what happens next (and we all know where that leads, don’t we!)

For what the author of Exteriors & Interiors and Feral Chickens has given us next is yet another highly enjoyable and easy mystery/thriller read of the highest order. One that, due to what I described above, in just three days, the prose is amenable to all, his dutiful characterizations and overall storytelling one that allows the reader to be willingly enveloped into an enthralling story line from the very off.

In short, Owen O’Shea, Stay-At-Home Dad, Wannabe Detective is a must read for anyone who enjoys a good, old-fashioned mystery that also comes wrapped in a seamlessly enraptured thriller, whilst at all times never straying from the fact that it is a family-driven story.

So if any of this makes you curious to read a newly-created story, one that is chock full of well-developed characters, scenically crisp observations, and enough intrigue to keep you attune from start to finish, I urge you to rush out, buy this book, settle down into a comfy seat, a hot cup of tea next to you, no distractions anywhere close, and lovingly immerse yourself today in this gripping story that surrounds the titular Owen O’Shea.

About the Author - Raised in Minnesota, C. McGee currently lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his wife Beth and their daughter Jo. Owen O’Shea is his third novel.

Official Amazon Book Purchase Link

www.collectiveinkbooks.com





The Philosophical Conversation: The Basics
By: Kristof Van Rossem - Changemakers Books - $17.95

Overview: How do you keep your conversations light and playful yet profound? How do you ask the right questions, with the right words, at the right moment? The Philosophical Conversation: The Basics by author Kristof Van Rossem teaches you the basics of philosophical skills and instructs how to get started.

Verdict: Ergo, The Philosophical Conversation: The Basics is a most divine philosophical score, which provides you with the right attitude, technique and execution, determines the rhythm. Inside these pages there are all kinds of exercises to help you think more accurately and show you how to share that with others.

In what is a most impassioned, dutifully cultivated and magnificently sculpted new book, here in The Philosophical Conversation: The Basics you will quickly discover an all-encompassing investigation into the Spirit World at a rather comforting level of prose.

In short, a philosophy of practice is the set of values that guides a practitioner’s behavior to be ethically appropriate, clinically accurate, and legal. It defines the rules, roles, relationships, and responsibilities of the practitioner. A philosophy of practice is specific to a practice, not the practitioner.

Thus here within some very impassioned prose, author Kristof elegantly details how dialogue can be philosophical and practical at the very same time, although, in all truth, it is also possible to state that all philosophical work is a practice, in and unto itself, since it is always an exercise of the mind.

Nevertheless, the distinction introduced tries to distinguish a certain idea of ​​philosophy, where it is not so much the knowledge of the authors, the schools of thought and the tradition that interests us, but rather the activity of thinking as such. Between Socrates and Aristotle was dug an important gap. Philosophy as dialogue became rapidly a lecturing activity, where a teacher gives his students the knowledge they need to assimilate, a form of teaching that is now rather hegemonic in the academy.

A book that comes chock full of dutifully crafted analogies and metaphors, that all come together to eagerly facilitate philosophical conversations to life, whilst at the same time illustrating the science of questioning everything whilst at all times thinking philosophically, we are informed that by philosophical practice we mean an exercise that is not reserved to an intellectual elite, but is neither a banalization of philosophical culture either.

Indeed, the issue is to invite everyone to work through the various constraints of philosophizing. Questioning, arguing, problematizing, conceptualizing, analyzing. Yes, there are so many mental gestures necessary for this martial art of thought, that it then implies to question and to understand the world, others and oneself; to determine at best our actions, for the simple pleasure of thinking.

In and unto itself, Philosophical consultation is basically about the care of the self, about the “know thyself”, about searching for a “good life”, a quest for wisdom, becoming conscious of oneself and the world. It is not a psychological approach, where one tells his life and his pains, nor a coaching where one seeks to solve the problems of everyday life, but a real philosophical work, where we pose problems, where we produce hypotheses, where we conceptualize the discourse, and we engage in a critique.

Certainly, a subject is summoned, but for a mise en abyme, and not simply to express oneself or for an exchange of opinions. The dialogue then becomes the occasion of a close interrogation, the place for a demanding thought.

In closing, and simply put, this book offers profound lessons in how to perform such philosophical conversations, both professionally and within your own personal life. It is well written and created for even the most absolute beginner to grasp onto and easily follow along with.

So buy this book and quickly discover within its seven Chapters - The Characteristics, The Score, The Posture, The Technique, The Performance, The Structure and The Goal - the joy of making music with words.

About the Author - Kristof Van Rossem works as an independent philosopher and is specialised in the art of questioning and in Socratic dialogue. He is teaching Business Ethics at the Odisee Highschool in Belgium and is a teacher (trainer) of philosophy at the University of Leuven, Belgium. He lives in Meldert, Belgium.

Official Amazon Book Purchase Link

www.collectiveinkbooks.com





Quaker Quicks: The Promise of Right Relationship
By: Pamela Haines - Christian Alternative Books - $31.95

Overview: These reflections within Quaker Quicks: The Promise of Right Relationship address the challenge of reaching for right relationship in all aspects of our lives. They invite us to consider how we show up - with ourselves, our communities and the world around us - in the light of Quaker values and practice.

Verdict: Does this choice of a way of being nourish community, for myself and others? Is a commitment to equality embedded in my position and clear in my intent? Does it have the essence of simplicity, cutting through the layers of complexity and clutter in modern life, and resting in that which is good and true?

Is it life-affirming, tending to minimize violence and enhance the possibility of peaceful cooperation? Is it rooted in an understanding of my place in the larger community of life in all its forms, and my role in sustaining that web? Is it honorable: Does it have the ring of truth?

An intention to keep reaching for right relationship holds the promise of finding solid ground in these tumultuous times and discerning paths that light a way ahead.

“Within the Judeo-Christian-Humanist tradition, Quakerism has uniquely centered the ethics of right relationship. Combined with the ethics of reverence for life, it lifts the veil on a flowering landscape of readaptation in which a social economy of adequate access to the means of life under the governance of no more than needed provides a bountiful and satisfying way of life.” -- Paradigm Explorer David Lorimer.

In a most remarkably impassioned book that not only deepens ones awareness of how they live their lives, but at the same time expertly aids in increasing ones confidence, sense of power and choice, and ultimately their very own love for themselves and others, Quaker Quicks - The Promise of Right Relationship by author Pamela Haines is a calming voice in a sea of vocal turbulence.

A subject matter that I myself have embraced for many decades, my take on the Judeo-Christian-Humanist traditions are that since the fall of the Iron Curtain there has been a steady rise in the use of the term ‘Judeo-Christian’ by European theologians, politicians, historians and philosophers. Is it also possible that such divergent public figures as Geert Wilders, aright-wing populist politician in The Netherlands, Jacques Derrida, a left-leaning French philosopher, and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, use the term ‘Judeo-Christian tradition’ in the same manner?

Is there any means to pin down the meaning of this term as it is now being used in Europe? Or is this term, which ‘has achieved considerable currency’ throughout Europe – both popular and scholarly, a shibboleth as was claimed by Mark Silk in his 1984 ‘Notes on the Judeo-Christian Tradition in America’ (Silk 1984, 65).

Before trying to disentangle the many diverse uses of the term ‘Judeo-Christian’ in contemporary European discourse, let us briefly consider the possible origins of the concept or signification of Judeo-Christianity. To help navigate this complex concept, we begin by sifting through the theological, philosophical, and political literature on the notion of Judeo-Christianity. Three possible historical origins emerge: the early Church period prior to the ‘parting of the ways’ between Judaism and Christianity (200–400 ce) (Dunn 1999; Boyarin 2006; Becker and Reed 2007), 17th century Enlightenment thought, and 19th century theology (greatly inspired by German Idealism).

Heller’s 1951 piece, ‘The Judeo-Christian tradition concept: air or deterrent to goodwill?’, published in the journal Judaism, ambitiously claims that this tradition has “a long and cherished history” (Heller 1951, 133). This history has four phases: its origin in the period directly following the birth of Jesus, 19th century German theological supersessionism, 20th century racial anti-Semitism (which he connects to Nietzsche), and most recently political Orientalism. Explicitly demarcated by the horrors of the Shoah, Heller’s frame leads him to narrate the transformations of the notion of Judeo-Christianity in terms of shifting anti-Semitism e.g. from theological to political via racial anti-Semitism.

Framed in a similar vein to Marshall Grossman’s 1989 deconstructive analysis of the ‘violence of the hyphen in Judeo-Christian’, Heller’s ideological motivation to prove that anti-Semitism is as old as Christianity prevents him from appreciating the Foucauldian inspired concern in Grossman’s analysis – the role of power, and its relation to discourse. Concretely, Heller wants to paint a picture of 2000 years of uninterrupted anti-Semitism from the birth of Christianity to the Shoah.

One of the most significant contributions to the discussion about the origins of the term ‘Judeo-Christian’ that does consider the political motives is that by Joël Sebban (Sebban 2012). With an explicitly French focus, Sebban locates the roots of this term in the emancipation of the Jews in the year 1791. The French context is clearly influenced by events on the European continent and the role of the Catholic Church (as the writings of Jacques Maritain demonstrate, see (Maritain 2012; Andras and Hubert 1996)).

In this vein, ‘la morale judéo-chrétienne’ has several ideologically different manifestations. Sebban develops several of these political responses to the idea of a Judeo-Christian tradition such as: a liberal Christian ideology (at the turn of the 20th century), a last attempt to save the life of the spirit by religious philosophers in the 19th century, and most recently in the form of a discourse of civilisations.

I could go on, and for days about all this, but I fear I have already wildly diverged from the path of where the author originally intends us to follow along on.

So, and with all said, and even though the history of what drives this book is something that I have notably been at-one with for years, I myself even found it to be extremely helpful - in that it resolutely deepens ones awareness of how they live their own lives, increasing their confidence, sense of power and confidence of choice, and deepens a love for not just themselves, but for all others.

About the Author - A student of economics since childhood, Pamela Haines has spent a lifetime gathering experience, knowledge and perspective to speak with authority on how economic theories and structures shape our lives and challenge our values. She has written pamphlets and magazine articles and lead workshops based on demystifying connections between economics and daily life, while challenging people to claim their power and act on their values. Pamela lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Official Amazon Book Purchase Link

www.collectiveinkbooks.com





The Five-Minute Druid Connection Made Easy
By: Sarah-Beth Watkins - Moon Books - $10.95

Overview: The Five-Minute Druid is written for those who are new to Druidry, struggling with their path, or looking to find ways to connect or re-engage in small, easy ways.

From daily observations to five-minute meditations, there is something for everyone struggling to include Druidry in their daily lives.

Verdict: You could be flat out at work with not a minute to spare, have a new baby in the house and many sleepless nights, or you could be housebound or recovering from an illness. Whatever the reasons, life sometimes throws up challenges that sway us from our path.

Thus, this guide gives suggestions for how to support your practice and your self in short manageable bursts, helping you to reconnect in just five minutes.

For those unaware, Druidry is a thriving, nature-based spirituality that has its roots in ancient times. The ancient druids were wise sages, historians, astronomers, diviners, and bards. While their traditions died out over two millennia ago, today’s druids draw upon the wisdom and surviving lore of the ancient druids for inspiration.

As modern Druidry honors ancient ancestors, it also focuses on creating a responsive, nature-based spiritual tradition that helps people cultivate their own creative gifts, find healing with and through nature, and explore metaphysical aspects of the spirit of the earth.

Inspired by the ancient druids and their three-fold system, the modern druid path has three distinct expressions: that of the ovate, bard, and druid. Some people focus on one path, but many who take up Druidry elect to work within all three branches as they all build upon each other.

The ovate path focuses on deep nature connection, a critical part of every druid’s path. Ovate practices connect us back to our ancient human ancestors who understood the world of spirit, who had intimate knowledge of nature, and who depended on nature directly to provide their needs. In modern Druidry, the path of the ovate includes both physical and metaphysical aspects.

Within Druidry, a core concept from the Welsh language is Awen (pronounced ah-wen), which refers to flowing or divine inspiration. Druids connect with the creative spirit of the divine, found in nature, and channel that creativity into expressive works of all kinds.

The Awen symbol, which depicts three rays of light, is one of the core symbols of the druid tradition. Awen can include the spark of inspiration when an amazing idea comes to you, and it can also include getting deeply into the flow of a creative practice.

In ancient times, the bard was a storyteller and historian, traveling the countryside collecting tales and weaving songs. In the modern druid tradition, the bardic arts refer to all creative practices that we can cultivate. These include literary arts such as poetry, storytelling, and writing; fine arts, such as painting, sculpture, or drawing; fine crafts such as woodworking, blacksmithing, or bookbinding; and performing arts such as dance, theater, or music.

For Druidry beginners, it may be confusing that the path of the druid is just one aspect of the larger druid tradition. This is because “druid” refers to the metaphysical and spiritual aspects of the path, which is where the tradition gets its name. By contrast, the ovate and bard expressions are more concrete.

The path of the druid puts us in connection with the broader metaphysical world and our own spirits. One thing that separates Druidry from many other religious traditions is that druids do not all share the same belief system. All druids do believe that nature is sacred and nature is good. Beyond that, druids hold diverse beliefs and can be monotheists, animists, polytheists, or agnostics; they may align themselves with any of the world’s religious traditions.

Now that has all been said, what author Sarah-Beth Watkins does here in The Five-Minute Druid Connection Made Easy, is bring forth a fabulous simplicity that not only guides us in by the hand along its paths, but also manages to enlighten, teach and therein entice us - all ages and abilities - to come experience a dutiful connectivity to Druidry.

Chock full of sage advice along with definitive musings and explanations, all told within a layman prose that I myself found very embracing, everything is to the point and as astutely insightful, nay inspiring as you could ever hope them to be.

About the Author - Sarah-Beth Watkins has been a freelance writer for over 20 years, writing for magazines and websites on a wide range of topics. More commonly known for her history books, Sarah is also passionate about Druidry and nature spirituality. She lives in County Wexford, Ireland.

Official Amazon Book Purchase Link

www.collectiveinkbooks.com





Scene Change
By: Alan Harrison - Changemakers Books - $23.95

Overview: Nonprofit arts organizations have to place nonprofit ahead of arts in order to thrive in these pre-post-pandemic days. Most currently don’t. Scene change is a phrase tied to the arts when discussing a literal change from one scene in a play to another, eliciting a new time, place, and situation.

Verdict: Here, however, it refers to actions made at this pivotal moment within the entire sector, where the rules that went into play over half a century ago can no longer apply for the arts to serve their nonprofit purpose.

That charitable purpose – to help those who need the help – cannot exist in an environment of privilege, exclusivity, and the subjective concept of excellence. Excellence does not put food on a hungry person’s table, if they even have a table.

In his brilliantly unpretentious, snarky, and hilarious style, Alan Harrison pulls no punches. He identifies and addresses elitism, defines and defuses toxicity, and provides outlines for success, including a hopeful prediction for the future.

Furthermore, this book also provides context for the pinball journeys of a 30-year adventure, leading nonprofit arts organizations in America – warts and all.

A truly gifted writer who dutifully, nay expertly combines levels of humor and compassion that seamlessly identify, and as articulately as one could ever hope, the offers of solutions to some of the challenges in the nonprofit and arts sectors, along with sharing his very own, impassioned thoughts about the flurry of inequities he sees as a citizen of the world on a daily basis, Scene Change: Why Today’s Nonprofit Arts Organizations Have to Stop Producing Art and Start Producing Impact by author Alan Harrison shares his perspectives; in layman’s terms and with a genuine diligence to never wander or shirk his prose responsibilities.

A man who was adamantly strong when it came to promoting the mission of ArtsWest and whose clarity of purpose together with an undeniable steely, and unwavering focus when lasered in on something, his thoughts within this book are just as decisive, just as impassioned as they are in real life (if you have ever had the chance to meet him in person), and therein his ability to identify the priorities needed to achieve a goal and then make it/them a reality are, to my mind, second to none.

In closing, the books is not only a must-read for anybody even the slightest bit interested in what he has to say, but a serious must-have for all donors, board members, and all those even vaguely attached to the non-profit performing arts.

Alan himself fully admits that he never set out to be an arts administrator, let alone an executive director, not even understanding at that time what a non-profit organization was or how it operated, or not, as the case might be. Moreover, and as most unemployed performers put it, and with just $5 in his bank account, he had to get himself a job job.

Thus to read about his rise, and some time glorious falls, within this locked-into industry over the years, not only provides the reader with a sense of knowing the man behind the prose, but actually aligns us to his chosen directive, his dedicated profession to explore, and subsequently help change; and thus gives us all a better sense of his humor and worldly viewpoints culled from his smorgasbord of experiences with their/his regard.

About the Author - Based in Kirkland, Washington, Alan Harrison is a writer and speaker specializing in nonprofit arts organizations, strategy, and life politics. His blog posts appear regularly in major publications, including ArtsJournal. For 30 years, Alan Harrison has explored the relationships between the arts and the community on behalf of nonprofit arts organizations across the United States.

Official Amazon Book Purchase Link

www.collectiveinkbooks.com





Pagan Portals: Frigg, Beloved Queen of Asgard
By: Ryan McClain - Moon Books - $12.95

Overview: Pagan Portals - Frigg, Beloved Queen of Asgard by author Ryan McClain is a thoughtful blend of historical research and personal experiences for honoring the Norse goddess Frigg in our modern world.

Verdict: For those unaware, the Norse goddess Frigg is known to have influence over many roles. She is a goddess of marriage and children, but she is also a goddess of fate and cunning. Indeed, Frigg is a goddess of domestic activities, and she is a goddess of healing.

She is also a goddess of both love and peace. As the Queen of Asgard, Frigg tends to a court of 12 handmaidens, each having their own distinct qualities. This introductory book examines Frigg’s history, functions, relationships, and ways to honor her in our modern times.

Filling in a few more details, Frigg or Frigga (which means ‘Beloved’ in Old Norse) is a goddess found in Norse mythology. As the wife of Odin and the mother of Baldur, she is the ‘Queen of the Æsir’. This deity was worshiped as a sky goddess and is believed to be responsible for weaving the clouds.

Additionally, the Norse believed that she had the power of prophecy and was in charge of weaving the fates. Love and marriage were also in the domain of this powerful goddess. As an interesting side, the English weekday name ‘Friday’ is etymologically derived from the name of this goddess.

Although possibly the most important goddess of the Æsir, little is said about her in the surviving primary sources on Norse mythology. Moreover, she is not an entirely unique goddess, as she shares a number of attributes with Freya, a goddess of the Vanir. Both, for example, are associated with love and marriage. Both are also speculated to have evolved from an earlier Germanic goddess known as Frija.

So what we have here in Pagan Portals - Frigg: Beloved Queen of Asgard is a quite wondrously impassioned introduction to Frigg. Well written and dutifully researched, easy to read and understand, and yet immaculately informative and emotively distinguished, personally, I especially liked that each chapter culminates with McClain’s own take on what was discussed within that particular chapter.

Showcasing the obviously impassioned viewpoint that Frigg served as a role model for her female followers, the immersive historical sources that are examined are broken down in a way that even if you are not all that familiar with them, you too can understand them. Personally, I found the roles and symbols of Frigg to be the most interesting chapter, but there is oh-so much more to be learnt within these thoroughly engaging pages, trust me.

About the Author - Ryan McClain is a solitary practitioner of various spiritual paths, and he honors several deities from these traditions. He is a graduate of Ivy Tech Community College. He is an active environmentalist and homemaker. Ryan lives with his husband in a small town in Indiana.

Official Book Purchase Link

www.collectiveinkbooks.com





Persephone: Practicing the Art of Personal Power
By: Robin Corak - Moon Books - $12.95

Overview: Within Pagan Portals - Persephone we embark upon a powerful journey with Persephone, Queen of the Underworld and Goddess of Spring, as she helps us to discover our personal power and take control of our life.

Verdict: For those unaware, Persephone was the goddess queen of the underworld, wife of the god Haides (Hades). She was also the goddess of spring growth, who was worshiped alongside her mother Demeter in the Eleusinian Mysteries. This agricultural-based cult promised its initiates passage to a blessed afterlife

Indeed, Persephone was titled Kore (Core) (the Maiden) as the goddess of spring’s bounty. Once upon a time when she was playing in a flowery meadow with her Nymph companions, Kore was seized by Haides and carried off to the underworld as his bride. Her mother Demeter despaired at her disappearance and searched for her the throughout the world accompanied by the goddess Hekate (Hecate) bearing torches.

When she learned that Zeus had conspired in her daughter’s abduction she was furious, and refused to let the earth fruit until Persephone was returned. Zeus consented, but because the girl had tasted of the food of Haides - a handful of pomegranate seeds - she was forced to forever spend a part of the year with her husband in the underworld.

Her annual return to the earth in spring was marked by the flowering of the meadows and the sudden growth of the new grain. Her return to the underworld in winter, conversely, saw the dying down of plants and the halting of growth.

And to be fair, in other myths, Persephone appears exclusively as the queen of the underworld, receiving the likes of Herakles and Orpheus at her court.

Thus, here in Pagan Portals - Persephone: Practicing the Art of Personal Power by author Robin Corak, I myself found most all their prose to be highly informative, which leads to the most sincerest of credence that this is therefore a most useful book of the subject matter to hand.

For it not only explores the history of Persephone, how her story can be interpreted and suggest ways for us to use her energy in spiritual practice and for our own self empowerment, but it also serves as a book that features a good, fair balance of historical information along with different types of practical suggestions.

In conclusion, not a long read, which is not a band thing, but a compulsive one nonetheless, and one that along with its guided meditations, dutiful information and suggestions galore, had me enraptured with its prose from the very off, Persephone: Practicing the Art of Personal Power will be a much welcomed entity into your soul; for it is a well-researched book complete with guided meditations and journalism inspirations to enable the reader to, and importantly at their own pace, connect with their inner Persephone.

About the Author - A practicing pagan for roughly 20 years, Robin Corak is a long-time member of the Sisterhood of Avalon where she currently serves as the Board Secretary. She has been published in a variety of anthologies and teaches locally and nationally at conferences including Paganicon, and Pantheacon.

Robin is also the CEO of a large non-profit organization, a member of the Forbes Non-Profit Council, and a recipient of multiple leadership awards. She lives in Edgewood, WA, USA.

Official Book Purchase Link

www.collectiveinkbooks.com





A Modern Celt, Seeking The Ancestors
By: Mabh Savage - Moon Books - $19.95

Overview: Celtic tradition is at the heart of many aspects of popular modern pagan paths, and this book brings those aspects together to explore the relevance of a 2000-year-old culture in modern-day society. A Modern Celt looks at the Tuatha de Danaan, who they were and their continuing relevance in the 21st century.

It looks at several of the key figures and the legends surrounding them, and considers how they relate to real life, everyday events, and the power they can lend us to deal with our own problems.

Verdict: Furthermore, the wheel of the year brings Celtic festivals and a modern calendar together, and these corner posts of the year help us understand the world as something that existed long before humans arrived, and hopefully will continue to exist long after we are gone.

A Modern Celt considers some of the things we do to try and preserve it, and how these can be inspired by our Celtic roots. With musings from members of Celtic paths about why they feel such a tie to their Celtic ancestry, A Modern Celt paints a picture of an ancient world, alive and thriving today.

I never really referred to myself as a Pagan until I was in my early twenties, author Mabh Savage reveals. I always thought of myself as a witch, and I guess even with this I had my own definition. I know some people shy away from using the word witch because of its many negative connotations, but seeing as my path, or set of beliefs, wasn’t really something I discussed with, well, anyone (not even some family members until quite recently), it didn’t seem to matter. Meeting other like minded, or similar minded people led me into the somewhat dubious habit of referring to myself as a Pagan, simply to help others pigeon hole me.

I’m not sure I actually fit the current definition of Pagan,seeing as most definitions you find will refer to the religious aspects of the term, and I do not think of myself as particularly religious. Understanding the changing of the seasons and the way the world transforms as it turns is not a religion. What I practice is about delight, celebration and respect; worship (which seems to be at the heart of most religions) has very little part to play in it.

Steeped in Celtic lore and mythology, from an early age, Savage understands that not every person will connect with every deity, but that the Celtic tradition as a whole has deep meaning for many modern Pagans. To this end she introduces us to the Irish gods and goddesses, not just as they appear in the ancient tales, but as they have shown themselves in her life and the lives of those close to her.

In addition to discussing the deities, Savage takes the reader through the wheel of the year from the viewpoint of modern Celtic spirituality, offering glimpses into the meaning of each major point on the circle and inviting us to explore them more deeply ourselves.

She also shares wonderful stories from her fellow Celtic Pagans, showing us that magic is very much alive in the world and that it touches those who are open to it.

Which means she also shares her experiences (which are at all times veined with informative and dutifully entwined pearls of wisdom and knowledge) of these Celtic deities as living beings, as current and relevant as you or I, and thus lovingly shares this experience in vibrant, approachable prose.

What this does is provide the reader a real, vibrantly current, living spirituality, connection from the deep past to the most recent moment, whilst at the same time makes historical traditional sources relevant to for the modern reader.

About the Author - Mabh Savage lives in Yorkshire, England, and was raised by Wiccan parents who had a passion for Celtic history, both mythological and actual. She is now involved with several pagan groups and is exploring her heritage as a way to get closer to the world around her, and understand her ancestors more.

Official Book Purchase Link

www.collectiveinkbooks.com





Pagan Portals: Hoodoo Folk Magic
By: Rachel Patterson - Moon Books - $12.95

Overview: Pagan Portals – Hoodoo is an introduction to the magical art, detailing what Hoodoo is and how to work with it as well as offering recipes and other ideas.

The book details the author’s personal experiences with Hoodoo, deities, beliefs and the magical practices along with information on various Hoodoo crafts - bottle spells, foot track magic, crossroads magic, powders, spiritual washes and much more.

Verdict: From the off, we are informed that Hoodoo in the form that we know it can be traced back to the early 19th Century, and possibly earlier. Hoodoo is the American name for African American folk magic.

Indeed, many religions sprang from the African traditions, such as Yoruba, Santeria, Vodoun and Candomblé. Hoodoo came out of those beliefs and is the magical practice, not an actual religion. It is definitely not Voodoo, as it is commonly called by mistake. Voodoo, or Vodou, is a Haitian African religion, while Vodoun is West African.

Hoodoo, as we recognize it, was established during the times of slavery in America using the native plants and items available to the people at the time and probably taking a little knowledge from the Native Americans too, with definitely some European folk magic thrown in to the mix as well. I do believe a good amount of the Hoodoo magical practices were brought by slaves; they didn’t arrive as slaves with no beliefs or practices at all.

A lot of the slaves at the time were forced to follow the Catholic religion. What they did was to incorporate the saints, deities and rituals into their own religion. Santeria is a good example of this, although they also included the darker side of magic such as curses and hexes as well.

Furthermore, if you take a look into the blues music from the times of slavery you will find a huge amount of references to Hoodoo in the lyrics.

Ergo, Hoodoo is a practice of magic which is based on surviving and the need for things such as healing using herbs, plants, roots, stones, minerals and the like, combined with chants, rituals and handmade items. It is based around a main framework of intents– love, success, luck, happiness, health and wealth. It is also a form of magic that works with one’s own personal power.

So, and as I’m sure you could tell by now, Pagan Portals: Hoodoo Folk Magic is a rather practical, yet highly informative and dutifully impassioned guide into all this, and one that at the same time manages to dispel some of the hidden mystery surrounding this very Southern practice.

Not an overly long read, which is always a blessing to me, it still manages to cover all the basics in a way that lovingly manages to feel like it is way more of a comprehensive guide than it actually is (which is a good thing), and thus every one who reads it should instantly begin to feel better equipped to explore this practice further.

And it bears repeating that even in its short form, this is the ultimate Kitchen/Hedge/Garden Witchery where the use of everyday items is a plus and the flexibility of substitution is particularly appealing.

And in a quirk of how these things usually pan out, this book on Hoodoo Folk Magic is written by a British author, who herself delves into this very American folk magic in a relatable, and genuinely appealing way for all magical practitioners living in the UK.

About the Author - Rachel Patterson is High Priestess of the Kitchen Witch Coven, Team Leadership member of the Kitchen Witch School of Natural Witchcraft, Green/Kitchen Witch with an added dash of hedgewitch and folk magic. She lives in Portsmouth, UK.

Official Book Purchase Link

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Pagan Portals: Pathworking Through Poetry
By: Fiona Tinker - Moon Books - $12.95

Overview: Poetry talks to the heart as well as the head. It can move us, make us think and guide us. This book explores how poetry can help develop a Pathworking through exploring wisdom hidden in plain view.

It is a look at creative processes, inspirations, how nature and the Divine move us – and how to apply this on a personal level to Pagan Pathworking.

Verdict: In truth, and we in this household read a lot of this genre of book, for me personally, Fiona Tinker’s book Pagan Portals: Pathworking Through Poetry - Exploring, Knowing, Understanding and Dancing with the Wisdom the Bards Hid in Plain View (phew) is, and without a shadow of a doubt, one of the most unique set of collective prose that I have had the pleasure to read in some time.

My partner is a pagan who is following a rather bardic path, thus she herself found this book invaluable in the stories it tells and the insights into deities and myths that she would otherwise perhaps never have got, so to speak. Furthermore, so she tells me, since I handed it over to her once myself read, she has now reached the pathworking exercises and is very excited about that next chapter.

As for my thoughts, I have read many a book on paganism and all that encircles and embodies it, and yet Pagan Portals: Pathworking Through Poetry truly resonates with me as something beautifully refreshing to read; and even, perhaps, something written in a way that I have not myself beheld before.

Focusing on the work of three poets who found their home in the British Isles - MacLeod, Yeats, and O’Sullivan - all early contemporary Pagans of centuries past who found their place in the world through their moving spiritual poetry, we are lovingly guided through their works; in a way that not only informs and sculpts our minds, but also has the ability to act as an impassioned guide for deeper connection via the tool of pathworking - the ability to traverse the inner realms.

Fiona delves between the words, burrows under the lines, to bring forth hidden meanings and highlight lore that, for the most part, might well have been long forgotten about, or for the most part, not even passed on and into the past few generations. In doing so she also highlights some of the most creative works of the past allowing for the hope that a greater connection to the present self can be cultivated.

About the Author - Fiona Tinker was born in Glasgow in 1961 and at 17 decided there was a world to explore. After many adventures and travels covering several thousand miles and three countries, she now lives by the sea in in the North of Scotland.

Fiona is a post-graduate alumna of Southampton University. She has been teaching English to secondary school pupils in both England and Scotland for around thirty years.

Fiona Tinker is Pagan and has been actively involved in civic advocacy work in Scotland, including serving two terms as the elected Depute Presiding Officer of the Scottish Pagan Federation, as a legal celebrant; and as their education officer for a decade.

She regularly gave talks and presentations to a variety of audiences through these dual roles. Although she has now retired from these public roles, she still gives talks and presentations when invited.

Official Book Purchase Link

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Pagan Portals: Hedge Witchcraft
By: Harmonia Saille - Moon Books - $12.95

Overview: As Aristotle said, For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them. Learning by experiencing is about trusting your instincts and connecting with your inner spirit.

There is no dogma attached to hedge witchcraft. There are no tenets to follow. The path of a hedge witch is very much an individual one, and it is a solitary practice.

Ergo, this book will guide you if you wish to read more about hedge witchcraft as a pathway, or are already following such a path and wish to progress. Please also be aware that it only has a little about hedge riding and hedge magic as this book has too small a scope to include them, but that doesn’t really factor in.

Verdict: So, I hear you asking, what exactly is a Hedge Witch? Well, there are a lot of different belief systems in modern Paganism, and one that is seeing a resurgence in popularity is the path of the hedge witch.

Although there are a lot of different definitions of what a hedge witch is and does, you will find that for the most part, there is a lot of work with herbal magic, as well as an emphasis on nature.

Indeed, a hedge witch might work with gods or goddesses, perform healing and shamanic actions, or perhaps work with the changing seasons. In other words, the path of the hedge witch is as eclectic as those who practice it.

Growing up our family neighbor was a Hedge Witch and thus we were told that she was a wise woman who used nature - herbs and flowers from hedgerows and such - in her cooking at home, a lot of times for healing properties or even, sometimes (as we were informed over and over again) for magic.

But at the very same time, we were told that a Hedge Witch is much more than being that personified person along with a soothsayer of the weather, no, for these hedges she associates with can not only be physical, but spiritual also. For they can represent the barrier between this world and the world of the spirits.

Here in Harmonia Saille’s immaculately written Hedge Witchcraft: Learning by experiencing is about trusting your instincts and connecting with your inner spirit (phew), she not only teaches the magical side of the Hedge Witch’s Craft, but moreover brings with it a history lesson that, when all put together, becomes a quite wonderful, and wholly encapsulating resource for any witch (new or old) to embody (although, in truth, it’s prose tends to be more for the experienced practitioner).

Broken into many sections, the blending of traditional practices and those from folklore with more modern day beliefs and rituals, makes for a most wonderful sowing of magical seeds throughout the book for the reader to find.

An informative read. An impassioned, concise, clear of mind, explanatory writing style also helps propel the reader throughout. And where the author details her experiences, they come across as easily understood, never bogged down in personal details, her prose involving her own experiences with hedge work succinct, never wavering, and always on point (for both a newcomer and a seasoned practitioner).

About the Author - Harmonia Saille is a Hedge Witch and pagan of more than two decades. Her pathway includes nature, trees, Celtic and Norse mythology, the Elder Futhark runes, scrying (and other forms of divination), and nature spirits. She also practices magic (folk and shamanic). She studied at the Irish Centre for Shamanic Studies. Hedge riding is a regular part of her practice.

Harmonia holds workshops on hedge witchery, the runes, and other subjects both locally and at international spiritual events. Harmonia’s articles have appeared in various spiritual magazines and she was a co-founder of Irish Pagan magazine Brigid’s Fire. She is the author of Pagan Portals - Hedge Witchcraft and Hedge Riding, and The Spiritual Runes: A Guide to the Ancestral Wisdom among others.

Official Purchase Link

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Pagan Portals: The First Sisters Lilith and Eve
By: Lady Haight-Ashton - Moon Books - $12.95

Overview: It was said in the beginning, in a garden called Eden, that woman was created at the same time as man, and not from his rib. Lilith, the first female, created equal to stand as a partner. But she proved to be a person so troublesome that she vanishes from her rightful place in civilization’s mythological legends in place of Eve, the first wife.

With her younger sister Eve’s story heralding the future of all womankind, Lilith and her story stands alone as a testament to the Sacred Feminine and man’s fear of the mysteries that lie within her. The First Sisters: Lilith and Eve is a gateway to a provocative awakening.

Verdict: Growing up in my household, and here focusing on the one lesser-known sister, we were told, and from a very early age, that there are multiple origin stories for Lilith, but that the most popular history told views Lilith as the first wife of Adam. Indeed, according to the first Eve story, Lilith was created by God from dust and placed to live in the garden with Adam until problems arose between Adam and Lilith when Adam tried to exercise dominance over Lilith.

One story tells that Lilith refused to lay beneath Adam during sex. She believed they were created equal, both from the dust of the earth, thus she should not have to lay beneath him. After Adam disagreed, Lilith fled the Garden of Eden to gain her independence. Adam told God that Lilith had left and God sent three angels - Senoi, Sansenoi, and Sammangelof - to retrieve her.

The three angels found Lilith in a cave bearing children, but Lilith refused to come back to the garden. The angels told her they would kill 100 of her children every day for her disobedience. In revenge, she is said to rob children of life and is responsible for the deaths of still-born infants and crib deaths (SIDS).

Furthermore, male children are at risk of Lilith’s wrath for 8 days after birth (until circumcision) and girls are at risk for 20 days. Although Lilith stole children’s lives in the night, she agreed not to kill the children who had amulets of either of the three angels.

After the angels’ departure, Lilith tried to return to the garden, but upon her arrival she discovered that Adam already had another mate, Eve. Out of revenge, Lilith had sex with Adam while he was sleeping and stole his seed.

With his seed she bears lilium, earth-bound demons to replace her children killed by the angels. Lilith is also said to be responsible for males’ erotic dreams and night emissions. Another theory says that Lilith is impregnated, thus creating more demons [by masturbation and erotic dreams].

So yeah, that was what I myself grew up thinking and as much as the stories ebb and flow still today, with a lot of them having grown in text and power, a few of them having lessened out in their child-killing prose, the core remains the same today.

Thus what we have here in Pagan Portals: The First Sisters Lilith and Eve by author Lady Haight-Ashton - herself a Third Degree Gardnerian High Priestess, a Third Degree Cabot Witch within the Cabot Hermetic Temple and a Priestess of Selket within the Fellowship of Isis - is a text of founded information, none of it smothered by her own personal opinion, and which will, perhaps, make you rethink a lot of what you were taught growing up (I know it has me).

About the Author - Lady Haight-Ashton is a Third Degree Gardnerian High Priestess, a Third Degree Cabot Witch within the Cabot Hermetic Temple and a Priestess of Selket within the Fellowship of Isis, where she was also honored with an Adepthood in Sacred Healing Dance.

She is the High Priestess of Sacred Moon Coven and the Iseum of the Graceful Goddess, member of the Crossroads Lyceum and an elder within the Temple of Nine Wells in Salem, MA. She regularly publishes magazine articles Sacred Dance, The Goddess and Witchcraft. She lives in Maine, USA.

Official Book Purchase Link

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The Handbook of Urban Druidry
By: Brendan Howlin - Moon Books - $11.95

Overview: Druidry is currently exciting much interest but has an image that is not usually associated with urban life. In The Handbook of Urban Druidry, author Brendan Howlin presents Druidry in an easy-to-understand way, making the concepts open to everyone.

Verdict: In what is a very well written and highly impassioned new book, and one that challenges the perception of Druidry being secretive and serious with equal measures, author Brendan Howlin brings forth a humorously engaging prose on the philosophies of Druidry for a broad audience.

Druids were concerned with the natural world and its powers, and considered trees sacred, particularly the oak. Druidism can be described as a shamanic religion, as it relied on a combination of contact with the spirit world and holistic medicines to treat (and sometimes cause) illnesses.

Here in The Handbook of Urban Druidry: Modern Druidry for all, Brendan not only gives practical and inspiring insights into practicing Druidry in an urban environment, but at the same time reminds us all that Druids and their believes are present in towns and cities; but the book definitely is more angled towards the city-dwellers, of course.

Opening in a way that develops our perception of Druids, gently nudging us into realizing that we are, most likely, not really seeing what is around us. Indeed, that if we open our eyes and other senses, he proffers that we can see that even the most urban of environments literally teems with life of all entities.

Down to earth advice for the urban dweller who wants to live a more spiritual life attuned to nature, the author provides a simple program in a warm and conversational tone, sure, but threaded throughout is information, guidance and knowledge for everyone interested in becoming more attuned to themselves, communities and the environment.

In closing, if you’re struggling with the modern, urban, hectic lifestyle, craving something else and really not sure where to start, this could well be the perfect book for you. It’s accessible, very straightforward and opens a door to a totally different way of thinking about life.

Philosophically speaking, there’s some great stuff going on here in a way that is easy to absorb and apply to your own experiences.

The author’s fun and conversational writing style lends itself well to the subject matter; he poses the problems with modern urban living with a sympathetic tone. In proposing solutions, Brendan doesn’t pretend that the techniques he shares will be quick or easy. Instead, he reveals how this system, when used thoughtfully, will ultimately help the reader live a healthier and happier life.

About the Author - Brendan Howlin is a Druid grade member of the order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (OBOD). He has been Senior International Tutor for Bards and Ovates for 13 years, and Science Correspondent for Touchstone, the journal of OBOD for 13 years. He is also co-founder of Surrey Druid Grove. He lives in Guildford, UK.

Official Book Purchase Link

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Pagan Portals - Hellenic Paganism
By: Samantha Leaver - Moon Books - $12.95

Overview: Hellenic Paganism has been growing in interest for a number of years and steadily becoming a strong presence in neo-Paganism. As with most paths there are many differing practices in the Hellenic world, all underpinned by the values and ethics of what is understood to be the Hellenic way of life.

This includes practitioners who simply believe and work with the Theoi and those that attempt the daunting task of reconstructing this beautifully rich and consuming religion. Hellenic Paganism explores the revitalization and modernization of ancient Greek life.

Verdict: For those wanting a little more background on Hellenic Paganism, well, in and unto itself it refers to pagans devoted to the Olympian deities. An ancient tradition, it was originally practiced in classical Greece.

Indeed, the public practice of the Greek religion was made illegal by the Emperor Theodosius I in the fourth century of the current era, and this was enforced by his successors. The Greek religion, stigmatized as paganism, the religion of country-folk (pagani) survived only in rural areas as Europe entered into the Dark Ages.

Many adherents of Hellenic paganism, like Panagiotis Marinis from the group Dodecatheon in Greece, claim that the religion of ancient Greece has survived throughout the intervening centuries. Marinis claims he was raised in a family that practiced this religion.

As for my own personal knowledge and understanding growing up, paganism is more about, at its core, following any religion that’s not mainstream (mainstream being Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, etc).

But yeah, Hellenism and witchcraft are two very separate things. You absolutely don’t have to do witchcraft to follow Hellenism. That being said, some Hellenists do practice witchcraft too. And some witches work with Hellenic gods. For working with a god for spells is very different than just worshiping them religiously though.

But, I digress, for here in Pagan Portals - Hellenic Paganism by author Samantha Leaver we not only learn more informative, dutifully cultivated information of the subject to hand, but due to the author’s own practice coming through, we also find the book to be chock full of extremely helpful information for general practices re: Hellenic Paganism’s modern practices.

Which I think is made all the more especially enjoyable given that the author, like a lot of my very own friends and acquaintances, is a Witch. So whether you are starting out on your very own Hellenic Polytheism journey, or you are a seasoned follower and are someone who is already established in their practices giving out advice and sharing how they do things, this book is a comprehensively impassioned read for all.

In closing, and given a broader scope, yet something we can all do with hearing more of on a daily basis, Hellenismos aims not just to worship the Gods of Greece, but also to recapture the mentality and civility that the ancient Greeks aspired to. It is more than a way to worship; it is also a way to look at the world and find your place within it, both philosophically and physically.

It teaches that we are accountable not only for ourselves, but also for the well being of society and our fellow human beings. In Hellenismos, the Gods smile on those that accept their responsibilities and honor those who honor them accordingly at all times.

About the Author - Samantha Leaver is a Hellenic Witch and Kitchen Witch High Priestess, blogger and contributor to the Kitchen Witch School of Natural Witchery, a member of Hellenion, follower of Labrys and supporter of Elaion.

She brings surviving sources of the Attic and Eleusinian calendars and Ancient Greek religion together with kitchen and natural witchery, mysticism, and the modern world. She lives in Southampton, UK.

Official Book Purchase Link

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Southern Cunning: Folkloric Witchcraft ...
By: Aaron Oberon - Moon Books - $14.95

Overview: Southern Cunning is a journey through the folklore of the American South and a look at the power these stories hold for modern witches. Through the lens of folklore, animism, and bioregionalism the book shows how to bring rituals in folklore into the modern day and presents a uniquely American approach to witchcraft born out of the land and practical application.

Verdict: Simply put, what we have here is a book where the skilled author - Aaron Oberon - brings forth a magnificently-hued offering which presents the reader with an important glimpse into southern witch-lore and how modern folk witch practices can draw inspiration from this rich source of power.

Moreover a rather fascinating look at the practice of American folklore witchcraft, and one that helps shine a more positively revealing light on the oft-ignored and wildly misunderstood American South, Southern Cunning: Folkloric Witchcraft In The American South by author Aaron Oberon brings with it a prose chock full of regional folklore, some fun spell work, and an impassioned relayed set of experiences within the subject to hand.

I personally loved every chapter of this book, especially the chapters on Familiars and Spirits of the Land and thus this book is thoroughly recommended reading for witches with roots in the American South who are interested in folkloric craft practices [and all those just genuinely curious outsiders, of course!].

About the Author - Aaron Oberon is a Southern folk witch with a passion for bringing witchcraft to people from different roots. Aaron writes about queer magic, bioregionalism, and witchcraft that gets down in the dirt.

It is deeply important to Aaron that he helps to make witchcraft and magic more accessible to those from underprivileged areas. His goal in writing is to demonstrate that there is power in the stories of families and local land. Aaron lives in Southwest Florida.

Official Book Purchase Link

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Journey To The Dark Goddess
By: Jane Meredith - Moon Books - $19.95

Overview: Journey to the Dark Goddess will lead you on a powerful, healing path. In the stories of ancient Goddesses you will hear your own soul, calling out to you. The Dark Goddess is the creatrix of healing, change and renewal. She offers connection with the core of yourself.

If you have been unable to shake off depression, or fear its return; if you have inexplicable blank patches in your life, if you know that something is missing, or something is calling to you, if you seek the source of women’s power - it’s time to journey to the Dark Goddess.

Verdict: For, and given the aforementioned, this journey to the Dark Goddess exists in ancient myth. Weaving the stories of Inanna, Persephone and Psyche with self-inquiry and sacred ritual we learn to journey internally, creating maps in our darkest places and return enriched, integrating our deepest understandings. Meeting the Dark Goddess we see a mirror of our own soul.

Here in Journey to the Dark Goddess: How to Return to Your Soul by author Jane Meredith, we are lovingly taken by the hand and walked down a glorious path to the Underworld to confront and heal one’s inner darkness. Actually something not as foreboding as the sentence suggests, it focuses on the goddesses that exemplify the archetype of the Dark Goddess.

A little more prose reveals that the Dark Goddess is often associated with the Underworld where she leads the uninitiated through a transformative journey of self-discovery, change and soul renewal. She is connected with the unwanted, the forgotten, the ignored or even ashamed parts of our psyche.

However there is more to her than that. Encountering the Dark Goddess through Journey To The Dark Goddess enables author Jane Meredith to lovingly guide you through what this challenging facet of the Divine Feminine, the Dark Goddess, is truly about, and encourages you to step through the veils into her hidden realm.

Furthermore, she does the Shadow Self justice by not condemning or neglecting it, but rather viewing it as a divine aspect of the self and finding the gifts of healing and integration through confronting and working with it.

Thus she draws on myths of these Dark Goddesses and their journey into the Underworld - again, such as Inanna, Psyche and Persephone – which allows her to not only illustrate the gifts that come with exploring one’s own darkness; and with total, unskewed, uninhibited honesty, but allows the hope for a personal transformation and liberation to occur within each and every reader thereafter.

In closing, and full of fantastic exercises and wisdom, the book bravely tackles some very difficult subjects such as depression, fear, existential crises, and trauma. Best of all, the book is full of anecdotes from the author sharing her own journeys to the underworld and her own journey of healing.

About the Author - Jane Meredith is an Australian author and ritualist. Her books are: Falling through the Tree of Life: Embodied Kabbalah, Elements of Magic (co-authored with Fio Gede Parma), Aspecting the Goddess: Drawing Down the Divine Feminine, Magic of the Iron Pentacle: Reclaiming Sex, Pride, Self, Power & Passion (co-authored with Gede Parma), Circle of Eight: Creating Magic for Your Place on Earth; Rituals of Celebration: Honoring the Seasons of Life through the Wheel of the Year; Journey to the Dark Goddess: How to Return to Your Soul; and Aphrodite’s Magic: Celebrate and Heal Your Sexuality.

Some of Jane’s favorite things are cats, trees, books, dark chocolate and magic and she also loves traveling. Jane presents workshops on myth, ritual and the Goddess worldwide and as Distance Courses, she is also a teacher in the Reclaiming tradition. Her website is www.janemeredith.com and on Instagram and Facebook she can be found as @ janemeredithauthor.

Official Book Purchase Link

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When a Pagan Prays: Exploring Prayer in Druidry
By: Nimue Brown - Moon Books - $19.95

Overview: When a Pagan prays, there are many uncertainties - who we pray to, what we pray for, and what might happen to us as a consequence. Not having the same structures as other religions, Pagans can’t frame prayer in the same ways, and our experiences are likely to be wilder and more personal.

This book is both a wide ranging exploration of what prayer means in different faith and cultures, and a personal journey into a spiritual practice.

Verdict: To be honest with you, over the years I have myself read many books on Prayer, and from several faith perspectives, if truth be told. I have also painstakingly, yet dedicatedly taught Spirituality and Prayer out within the world, and studied theology at degree level, and thus I feel I am perfectly poised to be the right person to review this book; and report back that I truly believe this book by Nimue Brown is one of the most impassioned books on Prayer that I have come across in the past 20 plus years.

Now, for those not in the know, and taking a wide, yet at the same time somewhat pin-pointed view at it, Paganism is a Christian term used to designate those religions that do not worship the God of Abraham, the figure central to both Christianity and to other Abrahamic religions like Judaism and Islam. Indeed, Christians have used the terms paganism and pagan, which typically carry pejorative connotations, to draw clear distinctions between themselves and those who they believe are worshiping false gods.

Throughout most of the history of Christianity, few if any of those labeled pagan have adopted this label for themselves. However, since at least the first half of the 20th century, the term has been reappropriated as a self-designation by a family of related new religions. Often called modern Pagan or Neo-Pagan groups, they are inspired by the religions of Europe, North Africa, and West Asia that were rendered extinct by the spread of Christianity and the other Abrahamic traditions.

But, I digress, for what we have here in When a Pagan Prays: Exploring Prayer in Druidry and Beyond by author Nimue Brown is a prose that is both engaging and heartfelt one minute, yet informative and lucid the next. So much so that she, at times, reveal a raw honesty in relation to the problems they faced whilst writing the book.

Thus whilst most all of the text given to some ideas on Prayer and why people pray and the ethics behind such things are undoubtedly personally hued, overall she doesn’t lose her way in the mire of personalized spiritual practice, but moreover brings forth a more open-minded, nay a genuinely rewarding viewpoint on something that should also be of interest to open-minded, non-believers too.

About the Author - Druid, author, bard and dreamer. Nimue Brown is OBOD trained, a founding member of Bards of The Lost Forest, Druid Network member and previously a volunteer for The Pagan Federation. She lives in Gloucestershire, UK.

Official Book Purchase Link

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China The Super Predator: Challenge for the Planet
By: Pierre-Antoine Donnet - Changemakers Books - $17.95

Overview: China is facing tremendous economic, social and political challenges, as well as having become a predominant contributor to climate change. It has also become a predator against the Uyghurs, the Tibetans, and the Mongols, and taken over Hong Kong, silencing any forms of dissent.

It increasingly appears that one of the Communist regime’s main goals is to control the entire world, but this global ambition now faces mounting geopolitical difficulties.

Verdict: At the center stands Taiwan, which has become a full-blown democracy and, perhaps, a model for the entire Chinese nation. The United States - along with Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, and other states - are, more than ever before, willing to defend Taiwan. The possibility of a clash is real, making China along with Russia the main threat to the democratic world.

As I think we all know by now, ever since ancient times, contests among great powers have often involved contests of ideas. The Peloponnesian War was not simply a clash between a regnant Sparta and a rising Athens, but also pitted a liberal, seagoing protodemocracy that saw itself as the “school of Hellas” against a militarized, agrarian slave state.

The ideological threat that revolutionary France posed to the European order was just as serious as the military one. In the run-up to the Second World War, fascist powers and democracies squared off; during the Cold War, the superpowers divided much of the world along ideological lines.

The intertwining of ideology and geopolitics should not be surprising: At root, foreign policy is how a country seeks to make the world safe for its own way of life. Many analysts accept that U.S. foreign policy is driven by ideological impulses. Even hardcore international-relations “realists” concede the importance of ideology when they bemoan the grip that liberal passions have on Washington’s statecraft.

Curiously though, and focusing on the one side of this proffered discussion for now, there has been more resistance to the idea that there may be an ideological component to the grand strategy of America’s chief rival—the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Beijing is not making any “grand strategic effort to undermine democracy and spread autocracy,” has been said on more than one occasion around me, its foreign policy seemingly based on “pragmatic decisions about Chinese interests.”

Furthermore, realists say that China plays Realpolitik while America ignores John Quincy Adams’s 1821 advice to go “not abroad in search of monsters to destroy.” Other analysts suggest that it is a distraction or even a “delusion” to emphasize the ideological aspects of Sino-American rivalry at the expense of Beijing’s military and economic challenge.

In fact, the reverse is true, but I digress, for this whole debate has always gotten me riled up, it has become plainly obvious that over the past few years the unfolding world has shown us both Russia and China are a grave threat to democracy and existence of various governments in general; the US therefore showing itself to be the only one (most likely) who’s able to stop them.

As for Taiwan, well, it has gotten high marks when it comes to holding clean elections and protecting political rights. The public strongly supports democracy in principle and by and large approves the island’s system in practice. When it comes to performance, however, the political system does not do so well.

This is partly because of a set of structural factors. Selecting the president and legislature on a majoritarian basis fosters a degree of polarization and complicates the crafting of policy compromises. Periodically, social and political forces seek to circumvent the institutions of representative government (via mass protests, for example). They can block what they oppose but are unable to solve the problems that provoked their action in the first place.

But trying to stay on track again, as, well, these kind of heated discussions really get me worked up, as noted, as a whole, China is actually the world’s largest renewable energy producer and consumer. Indeed, its renewable power output nearly tripled between 2017-2022, averaging 26% annual growth during 2010-2022 which all means that China is home to one-third of the world’s renewable energy capacity.

And so here in China the Super Predator: A Challenge for the Planet by author Pierre-Antoine Donnet, we get to deep dive, and in a more pronounced, less frenzied manner than I have bounced off the walls here with, review of the factual elements that he melds together to showcase a much more cohesive, salient viewpoint of the discussional topic to hand.

Official Amazon Book Purchase Link

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Pagan Portals - The Irish Pagan Book of Rites
By: John Michael McLoughlin - Moon Books - $12.95

Overview: The Irish Pagan Book of Rites contains all the essential rites in an easy-to-follow format, presented in both the English and the Irish (Gaeilge) languages for those wishing to make their offerings in the beautiful indigenous Irish tongue.

Here you’ll find rites for regular use, blessings for water and the home, celebrations for the main Irish festivals, as well as in-depth explanations for the meaning, purpose, and lore behind each devotion.

Verdict: In what is a most beautifully written book on Irish Pagan prayers and rites of all kinds, author John McLoughlin has brought forth an incredibly impassioned prose within Pagan Portals - The Irish Pagan Book of Rites: Rituals and Prayers for Daily Life and Festivals, a much needed Pagan Irish devotional based in genuine Irish culture and history.

For those unaware, Paganism is a term applied to a number of religions and spiritual paths that have a strong connection with nature, many of which are based on traditional indigenous practices. Modern Pagans often perform seasonal and cyclical rites or ceremonies, known as Pagan rituals.

Indeed, the term Pagan usually refers to people who practice polytheistic religions (belief in many Gods) such as Wicca, Celtic Paganism, Druidry, Heathenry, and others. In contrast, religions like Judaism, Islam, and Christianity are called monotheist (belief in one God).

But, because Paganism is a very broad category, it includes many different religious beliefs and practices, and many different Gods and Goddesses. This diversity makes it difficult to define what exactly constitutes Paganism. However, there are some common traits that most Pagans share, such as a sense of connection with nature.

Thus, in what will obviously be of interest to anyone with ancestry from the far flung Irish and Celtic diaspora worldwide, I myself grew up a catholic in Ireland, but was late coming into my paganism and deprogramming much of what I had been taught in my early years.

However, what I do have in my favor though is a passion for the ancient Irish stories, a good memory, and a few years worth of actively building what I believe to be a Right Relationship with this ancient – and in my opinion awesome – Pagan God.

But I digress, this beautiful collection of rites is both engrossing and impassioned in such a way that the author has not only dutifully strived to preserve the traditions of pagan Ireland, but the original language in which they would have been performed.

About the Author - John Michael McLoughlin lives and writes on the brisk, beautiful shores of Lake Superior, MN. As a devotee and lover of traditional Irish spirituality, lore, and language, he is passionate about sharing these ancestral ways with others, providing strong foundations for seekers new to the path, as well as deep and enriching material for the experienced wayfarer.

Official Book Purchase Link

www.collectiveinkbooks.com





The Magic of Wolves
By: Robin Herne - Moon Books - $10.95

Overview: The Magic of Wolves explores a wide array of mythologies from around the world, demonstrating how humans have both understood and interacted with wolves - sometimes figures of admiration, sometimes seen as terrifying and savage. These sacred stories give insights not only into our own nature but also into the nature of wolves themselves.

Verdict: As I have grown up to learn, wolves held significant cultural and mythological significance in Norse mythology, primarily due to their association with the wolf Fenrir, a monstrous creature that played a prominent role in Norse mythology.

Fenrir was one of the children of the god Loki and was prophesied to bring great destruction to the gods during Ragnarok, the Norse apocalypse. This prophecy led to the wolf being viewed as a powerful and fearsome creature, and as such, wolves were considered sacred in Norse mythology.

Indeed, for me, the most well-known story involving Fenrir is the binding of Fenrir. In this tale, the gods attempted to bind Fenrir to prevent him from fulfilling the prophecy of his role in Ragnarok. However, Fenrir broke free from multiple bindings until he was ultimately bound by the magical ribbon Gleipnir, which was made from seemingly innocuous materials like a cat’s footfall, a woman’s beard, and other impossible items.

Furthermore, this story portrays Fenrir as an incredibly powerful and untamable creature, adding to his status as a revered and feared figure in Norse mythology.

But I digress, wolves were also associated with Odin, the chief god of the Norse pantheon, who was often depicted accompanied by two wolves named Geri and Freki. These wolves were said to represent Odin’s hunting companions or symbolic representations of his attributes, with Geri meaning ravenous and Freki meaning greedy. This association further elevated the symbolic significance of wolves in Norse mythology.

Overall, wolves were considered sacred in Norse mythology due to their association with the powerful and mythical wolf Fenrir, as well as their connection to the chief god Odin. They were viewed as powerful and untamable creatures, embodying qualities such as strength, cunning, and ferocity, which were respected and revered by the Norse people.

The Magic of Wolves also considers practical issues in pagan ritual, and how people have communicated with wolf spirits and turned to them as ancestral figures. Blending zoology, mythology, sociology, psychology and theology, this text aims to give a broad overview of how wolves and their relationships to humans can be understood.

Chapters cover topics such as the lupine legends of Ancient Rome, Classical Greece, the Norse, the Celts, India and Japan. Whether you are passionate about wolves, lycanthropes, mythology or magic, there will be something here for you.

About the Author - Robin Herne is an educator, poet, storyteller, poet, artist, dog-owner and Druid. He has written numerous articles for Pagan magazines, has appeared in television documentaries and is the author of Old Gods, New Druids, Bard Song and A Dangerous Place. He lives in Suffolk, UK.

Official Book Purchase Link

www.collectiveinkbooks.com





The 7 Levels of Wisdom, A Path to Fulfillment
By: Mónica Esgueva - Mantra Books - $14.95

Overview: Most Westerners, it seems, don’t relate to traditional Eastern spiritual practices, mainly because there is a disconnect between traditional Eastern approaches and modern society’s mindset and current environment. In The 7 Levels of Wisdom, a path toward a more enlightened and fulfilling life is analyzed.

Verdict: Meant to expand both knowledge and awareness, this path offers the richness of Eastern philosophies tailored for the Western mind. The 7 Levels of Wisdom covers different related topics crucial for understanding and leading a personal transformation, with an aim to inspire people to reach the highest levels of human consciousness, the most important goal, and to see it as something they can do, regardless of their responsibilities or life conditions.

By assessing and describing the different stages of human consciousness, The 7 Levels of Wisdom will help its readers identify where they are on the progressive path toward enlightenment, as well as what lies ahead.

So, are you ready to embark on a transformative journey towards self-realization and higher consciousness? Sure, the pursuit of enlightenment may seem daunting, but the rewards are immeasurable.

For enlightenment is the key to unlocking your true potential and experiencing inner peace and harmony. It is a spiritual awakening that allows you to transcend the limitations of the material world and connect with something greater than yourself.

The Seven (7) Levels of Wisdom are:

Subheccha (good desire)
Vicharana (self-inquiry)
Tanumanasi (subtle mind)
Sattvapatti (attainment of light)
Asamsakti (inner detachment)
Padartha bhavana (spiritual vision)
Turiya (supreme freedom)

And thus, what we have here in The 7 Levels of Wisdom: A Path to Fulfillment by author Mónica Esgueva -- an author, therapist, teacher, and spiritual guide whose work touches people profoundly, inspiring transformations in their day-to-day lives -- is a well researched, dutifully constructed, and wholly impassioned examination on how to better understand ourselves, and the world around us, at a time when the Gates of Wisdom seem always locked to us.

About the Author - Mónica Esgueva is an author, therapist, teacher, and spiritual guide whose work touches people profoundly, inspiring transformations in their day-to-day lives. She is the author of nine self-development books and has studied with great spiritual masters, such as the Dalai Lama, for 10 years in India and Nepal. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and a Master’s Degree in Foreign Trade. She lives in Spain.

Official Book Purchase Link

www.collectiveinkbooks.com





Astrolations!
By: Jill Carr - O-Books - $34.95

Overview: A fascinating guide for understanding your relationships with friends, family, and colleagues, involving a unique blend of Western and Chinese astrology.

Read about the astrological attributes of your child and other children in your life - and discover how the elements influence your astrological make-up - in order to further your understanding of yourself and those you encounter throughout life.

This guide aims to help you achieve fuller self-knowledge, as well as a rounded understanding of the people in your life.

Verdict: The differences between the Chinese Zodiac and Western Astrology, in principle, is that both systems are based on date and time of birth, with 12 symbols or signs used to communicate across meaning.

For those needing a little more, well, here are some of the small differences, to make things a little easier to understand. In both systems, there are the same number of signs: 12. Two are superficially similar: Ox/Bull and Goat/Ram.

The Chinese signs are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.

The Western signs are: Ram, Bull, Twins, Crab, Lion, Virgin, Scales, Scorpion, Centaur, Sea-Goat, Water Bearer, and Fish.

In Chinese astrology, the 12 signs are derived from a myth that when God was developing a calendar, all creatures on Earth were summoned to participate in a race. The first 12 to cross the line were awarded signs in the Chinese zodiac.

This differs from Western astrology where the 12 signs are based on constellations’ positions relative to the earth. The constellations were named according to Greek mythology.

But, I digress, as here in Astrolations!: A Unique Astrological Guide for You and All Your Relationships by author Jill Carr what she has dutifully done is cull together a very well organized, and wholly impassioned easy to read guide to astrology for both beginners and those already attune to it alike.

Simply put, this thoroughly informative, truly comprehensive book is intended for all those interested in the mysteries of life and whilst Jill has remained faithful to Western and Chinese astrological traditions -- to present us with a book focused on the connection between them -- she has also managed to refreshingly shine a light on a subject matter that we should all become more accustomed to reverting to on a monthly/yearly basis.

About the Author - Jill Carr’s passion has been astrology for all of her adult life, and she has studied and researched the subject extensively. Jill has a degree in Philosophy and Aesthetics, and performs astrological consultations on request. She has now settled in the wonderful county of Cornwall, where the natural beauty of this ancient and spiritual place constantly inspires her.

Official Amazon Book Purchase Link

www.collectiveinkbooks.com





How & What to Pursue in Life
By: Yoon-Jeong Kim - O-Books - $29.95

Overview: Why do I live as a small human being in this huge universe? The answer to this question is simple and clear. It is to feel genuine happiness. Then, another question arises. How and what makes one happy?

And this question cannot be answered right away. Feeling genuine happiness is something that can’t be achieved easily in this world, where many complicated circumstances are intertwined.

In order to feel genuine happiness, one must understand oneself, know about the world and see through the universe. You are the one who feels happiness, you can’t be happy simply by yourself, and happiness is the universe’s response to your choices.

Verdict: This book contains the principles by which the universe responds to your choices. It contains the very specific details. This book elucidates the five constitutions of your mind to help you understand yourself, and it explains the nine essences of how you communicate with the universe to help you understand your fate.

Based on such understanding, it guides you to the path to happiness. We ought to be happy, because happiness is the fate, as well as an obligation, that we little human beings, living in this huge universe, have.

So, I hear you ask, what are these aforementioned five constitutions of your mind that author Yoon-Jeong Kim wishes us to know more about here in the truly fascinating, yet wordy titled How & What to Pursue in Life: 5 Pillars of Mind On HOW to Live / 9 Absolute Values of Chakras WHAT We Should Live For.

Well, they are: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water, and this five elements theory is one of the central concepts of traditional Chinese medicine. Furthermore, the five elements theory is a framework used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to explain how we’re influenced by the world and weather around us, and how the organs of the body interact with each other.

I myself have been aware for the longest time that this five phases theory is a framework that’s been used for at least 2400 years in traditional Chinese medicine. Indeed, from the perspective of TCM, understanding which of the five elements has a dominant effect on you right now, can give you insight into your personal strengths and weaknesses.

If you’re feeling imbalanced, low in energy, or simply out-of-whack, understanding the elemental influences at play is also a quick way to help you know the kind of imbalances to watch out for, and guide you to simple steps you can take to restore harmony and balance.

And thus we come full circle back to this new book from Yoon-Jeong Kim this March, and as much as it covers much more than just those discussed above, to me personally, I have always been fascinated by the five elements theory.

For, as aforementioned, in order to feel genuine happiness, one must understand oneself, know about the world and see through the universe. You are the one who feels happiness, you can’t be happy simply by yourself, and happiness is the universe’s response to your choices.

In closing, How & What to Pursue in Life: 5 Pillars of Mind On HOW to Live / 9 Absolute Values of Chakras WHAT We Should Live For is a book that is dutifully impassioned, magnificently hued toward an ease of understanding and learning, and is something that if left on your coffee table for guests to peruse, will have gone home with one of them the very first night!

About the Author - Yoon-Jeong Kim’s curiosity about humans grew the more she studied Korean medicine. That is why when she became a doctor of Korean medicine, she focused more on individual constitution rather than the disease, and felt strong curiosity when she received an unfamiliar proposal regarding the origin and growth of an existence. She lives in Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.

Official Book Purchase Link

www.collectiveinkbooks.com





I am Taurus
By: Stephen Palmer - Iff Books - $10.95

Overview: The constellation we know as Taurus goes all the way back to cave paintings of aurochs at Lascaux. In I Am Taurus, author Stephen Palmer traces the story of the bull in the sky, starting from that point 19,000 years ago - a journey through the history of what has become known as the sacred bull.

Verdict: Each of the eleven sections here in I Am Taurus is written from the perspective of the mythical Taurus, from the beginning at Lascaux to Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Greece, Spain and elsewhere.

This is not just a history of the bull but also an attempt to see ourselves through the eyes of the bull, illustrating our pre-literate use of myth, how the advent of writing and the urban revolution changed our view of ourselves, and how even the most modern of rituals - bullfighting in Spain - is a variation on the ancient sacrifice of the sacred bull.

For thousands of years, the symbol of the bull has been surrounded with a mythical aura that spans not only eons of history, enduring to the present day, but also the vast range of cultures that have emerged in the Mediterranean world.

The legends and cults woven around the bull and the integral part that this wondrous, almost divine, animal played in people’s lives is the subject of I am Taurus, which is in and unto itself a gloriously dutiful exploration of the role of these animals in prehistoric culture and such.

Painted or engraved bulls on the walls of paleolithic caverns suggest that from prehistoric times, the bull was associated with cosmic energy and the forces of life and death. In Anatolia, the bull was worshiped as the son of the mother-goddess, and its horns, which supported the world, were seen as the pillars of the universe. This concept was probably the origin of horns as a mark of divinity.

In Mesopotamia, for instance, gods occasionally had bulls’ ears and, with almost no exception, wore a diadem with bulls’ horns. Another example, included in the exhibition, is the Hellenistic head of Zeus-Amon, a new Egyptian deity that emerged with the cultural fusion that followed Egypt’s conquest by Alexander the Great. The bulls’ horns that sprout from the head is again an attribute of divinity. The Roman deity Jupiter was portrayed, like other celestial gods of Syria and Palestine, with one or two bulls.

But, I digress, for as you can tell, the bull is an entity that I have followed along with for almost all my life, but here in the book, author Stephen Palmer traces connections between different times and places around the Mediterranean, all informed by the presence of a bull-like constellation.

About the Author - Stephen Palmer is the author of twenty genre novels, ranging from eco-SF through dark fantasy to steampunk. His short stories have been widely published, and he is the author of the book Tangerine Dream In The 1970s. He lives and works in Shropshire, UK.

Official Book Purchase Link

www.collectiveinkbooks.com





The Narrow Window (A Novel)
By: Gary D. Wilson - Roundfire Books - $17.95

Overview: As the turbulent 1960s draw to a close, an inexplicable crime forces two young Americans who are teaching in Africa, and those around them, to confront issues of motivation, culture and belonging.

Verdict: The shocking rape of a Peace Corps volunteer shatters the precarious balance of American idealism and hypocrisy in l969 Swaziland, a newly independent country dealing with its own equally fraught post-colonial issues.

In what is a mighty fine read, from start to finish, and chock full of fascinatingly characters, themselves, each and every one, a fully rounded, fully functional being for us to lock in on, The Narrow Window (A Novel) by author Gary D. Wilson is one of those books they term as a literal page turner.

As we grip immediately onto the story line from the off, the beautifully sculpted, and for the most part exotic locations are absorbed vicariously into us, our minds thus following along as if we were standing beside the characters on the page.

With personal agendas abounding, The Narrow Window is a somewhat heartbreak of a read, sure, but at the same time it is both breathtakingly thoughtful, deliciously alluring in its genuinely impassioned prose.

A dutiful tale of one’s very own identity, who we are, who we wish to become, and who we eventually become, along with the meaning of belonging (mentally and physically), it’s about everything we leave behind along with the accumulated baggage we take with us, of course.

About the Author - Gary D. Wilson is a fiction writer who currently lives in Chicago, Il. He has taught fiction writing at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Chicago. His book publications include the novels Sing, Ronnie Blue and Getting Right, as well as the short story collection, For Those Who Favor Fire.

Official Book Purchase Link

www.collectiveinkbooks.com





Emotional Capitalism
By: Peter Wing-Kai Lok - Iff Books - $11.95

Overview: As today’s emotional capitalism increasingly carries out its core operation of regulating the psycho-energy of individuals, the need to analyze a variety of methods for emotional production becomes important.

By bringing together the works of Byung-Chul Han, Bernard Stiegler, Emmanuel Levinas, and Judith Butler, this bold analysis offers a fresh perspective on the operation of emotional capitalism today, with various possibilities for evolving a sensitivity to social injustice and the suffering of others through an ethical, affective, and bodily inter-subjective connection.

Verdict: Growing up, I was fully aware that Advanced Capitalism (AC) was a macro-economic and macro-cultural system that exerts profound influence on individual well-being. Indeed, AC has led to great prosperity since the Second World War and has been of substantial benefit to well-being, providing levels of personal and political freedom, as well as infrastructure, health, and social provisions unheard of throughout most of human history.

Nevertheless, growing levels of inequality within AC countries alongside recent economic stagnation and constraints have resulted in diminished opportunities and increasing insecurity for many citizens.

Here in Emotional Capitalism: From Emotional Dictatorship to Emotional Redemption, author Peter Wing-Kai Lok asks how our repressed emotions which have been distorted and regulated by emotional capitalism can be transformed into ethical emotions.

In general, Capitalism feels like being eternally stuck on a hamster wheel, unable to get off unless there is a major crisis that forces you off- like a health issue, a pandemic, a relationship falling apart, extreme burnout, death of a loved one, etc. Then we hop off as we are forced to examine the state of our lives. Except we get back on once we’ve uncovered some band-aid solution to address the symptoms but never the root cause of our pain.

So what kinds of emotional experiences can transform a self-centered entity into an other-centered subject? Reading this enthused book, what is brought forth is a highly innovative set of constructs to the topic of emotional capitalism, all with theoretical courage and critical insight veined throughout.

In what is a genuine pleasure to read, from cover to cover this impassioned, dutifully sculpted prose is as thought provoking, as engaging as you could have ever hoped it would be.

About the Author - Peter Wing-kai Lok is Senior Lecturer in Cultural Studies and Creative Industries Program at the College of International Education, Hong Kong Baptist University. He is interested in cultural studies and contemporary French philosophy. He lives in Hong Kong, China.

Official Book Purchase Link

www.collectiveinkbooks.com





Drums & Demons The Tragic Journey of Jim Gordon
By: Joel Selvin - Diversion Books - $25.90)

Overview: Drums & Demons The Tragic Journey of Jim Gordon is the blazing rock opera of the greatest drummer of all-time, Jim Gordon, from the legendary Wrecking Crew to redefining rock on the Seventies’ biggest hits and outrageous tours, and ultimately to the most shocking crime in rock history — his is a story of musical genius and uncontrollable madness!

Verdict: In what is a most fascinating, at times eye-opening read from renowned author Joel Selvin, Drums & Demons The Tragic Journey of Jim Gordon (born James Beck Gordon) quickly unveils to us the simply fact that Gordon was, and undoubtedly, one of the most important drummers in American rock history.

Having played with artists such as Buffalo Springfield, Alice Cooper, Jackson Browne, John Denver, the Beach Boys and even Randy Newman, Jim Gordon (07/14/1945 - 03/13/2023) always gave his all and never once backed down from a challenge. Which is remarkable, given the fact that this biography also leans into Gordon’s issues with mental illness and substance abuse, both of which would ultimately bring his life to a premature end, sadly.

Chock full to the brim with stories and wondrous memories galore, let alone some incredible, never-before-heard interviews and comments from Gordon’s immediate family [who, it is believed, had declined to do such interviews over the years for other inquirers], we soon learn that Gordon was a protégé of Hal Blaine, and whereas such drummer alums as the co-founder of Toto Jeff Porcaro, sessionist Jim Keltner, and Andy Newmark (Sly and the Family Stone) all looked up to him, it was a warm glow that he himself never self-consciously bathed in.

Now, I won’t be digging into his aforementioned mental health and drug issues, as that is most definitely not what this book has been created for, but what I will say is this: to get a more defined picture of Jim Gordon, we should first understand that the man was, for all intents and purposes, living in two worlds - the real one and an unreal one, where it has been told down the years inner voices started to take him over [schizophrenia].

I mean, it is true that his life was shattered by mental illness and a murder conviction (for having taken the life of his own mother), and thus spent nearly 40 years in prison thereafter, but I would implore you to focus more on the fact that Gordon was performing professionally as a teenager and as early as 1963 was playing drums with Frankie Knight and the Jesters.

But, and moving on from that, instead let us all bathe in his majestic musicianship that came to the fore in the late ’60s, when he did turns with such artists as Neil Young (1967), Connie Francis (1968), Ricky Nelson, Linda Ronstadt, Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Rivers, Tiny Tim (1969), and crossing into the ’70s with George Harrison, and both Eric Clapton and Derek and the Dominos.

In closing, Drums & Demons is a what-we-are-led-to-believe accurately impassioned tale of Jim Gordon, a larger-than-life personality who before he got caught up in the maelstrom of schizophrenia, was knee deep in the laid-back L.A. sound one minute, yet ready to explode into a more frenetic being -- as witnessed on songs like Mason Williams’s “Classical Gas” (1968) or John Lennon’s “Power to the People” (1971); let alone when he toured with the late, great prolific workaholic Frank Zappa (who nicknamed him Skippy for his All-American demeanor and his all-American looks).

In closing, here are a couple of quotes from those who knew Jim Gordon well:

“Based upon my interactions with Jim Gordon, author Joel Selvin accurately portrays Jim’s genius as well as his development into the living hell he gradually occupied. Jim was always soft-spoken, and the first one to arrive at a session. His drums spoke for him, and he had a subtle but commanding presence. Years later, when he was scheduled for a session where I was producing a commercial, he arrived forty-five minutes late, was surly, and uninvolved. Someone else had taken over the Jim we knew and loved, and that was the last time I saw him.”
Mark Lindsay, Paul Revere & The Raiders

“I loved Jim Gordon like a brother and am grateful for Joel Selvin’s unstinting notice of Gordon’s luminescence, which adds great leavening to this heartbreaking work of staggering genius.”
Van Dyke Parks

About the Author - Joel Selvin a San Francisco–based music critic and author known for his weekly column in the San Francisco Chronicle, which ran from 1972 to 2009. Selvin has written more than 20 books covering various aspects of pop music — including the No. 1 New York Times bestseller Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock with Sammy Hagar — and published articles in Rolling Stone, the Los Angeles Times, Billboard, and Melody Maker.

He has written liner notes for dozens of recorded albums and appeared in countless documentaries. His most recent books are Sly and the Family Stone: An Oral History and Hollywood Eden: Electric Guitars, Fast Cars and the Myth of the California Paradise

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