“The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater.”
— JRR Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
books
Mary and Stella
I’ve always loved Cold Comfort Farm. It’s one of those books I keep more than one copy of in case I lend it to someone and it doesn’t come back. But I’ve also always been aware that it was a parody. The spoof introduction and dedication to someone who is obviously a caricature of Thomas Hardy makes that clear.
Continue readingDiverse Witchy Novels
There are many excellent and entertaining books with diverse LGBTQ+ and Black characters that you could be reading instead of that book, or that other book. Deciding whether to boycott the work of problematic authors is on a case-by-case basis, and depends on how awful they are, or were. In the case of living artists, is buying their work enabling them to continue to be awful? (Almost always yes.) Is their awfulness reflected in their work? But that’s the subject of another post. This is about reading authors who write more inclusive books.
There seems to be a flurry of witchy romance books at the moment, and magical stories in general are definitely having a moment.
Continue readingHappy birthday Doreen Valiente
Happy birthday to Doreen Valiente 🕯️🕯️
“Doreen Edith Dominy Valiente (4 January 1922 – 1 September 1999) was an English Wiccan who was responsible for writing much of the early religious liturgy within the tradition of Gardnerian Wicca. An author and poet, she also published five books dealing with Wicca and related esoteric subjects.”
Wikipedia
I was lucky to hear her speak at the Pagan Federation conference in 1997. You can find a transcript of her speech on the inclusive Wicca website.
One of the things she said during the speech was this very important thing:
“In every period of history, in every country in the world there have been gay people, both men and women. So why shouldn’t Mother nature have known what she was doing when she made people this way? I don’t agree with this prejudice against gay people, either inside the craft of the wise or outside it.”
One of the loveliest book reviews I ever received is from Misha Magdalene who said about Dark Mirror:
“a clear, pleasant writing voice reminiscent of Doreen Valiente, equal parts ‘straightforward instruction’ and ‘chatting over tea and biscuits.’ As an academically trained feminist nerd with a taste for systems analysis, this approach makes me positively giddy with delight.”
You can buy Doreen’s books (and two of mine) at the Doreen Valiente Foundation shop).
Books I read in 2023
I’m on The Magick Kitchen
Check out my conversation with the wonderful Elyse Wells (writer and podcast host) on The Magick Kitchen podcast, series 5, episode 9.
Colonialism in Peter and Jane
I’ve just seen a photo of a Peter and Jane book published in 1964. (Peter and Jane 1a, Keywords reading scheme, if you want to look it up.)
In the illustration, Peter and Jane are in a homemade “teepee” and Peter is wearing a children’s play version of a Plains Nation eagle feather bonnet.
When that book was published, Indigenous kids were still being sent to residential schools and dying there. The last residential schools closed in the mid/late 1990s.
Continue readingReview: Morgan is my name
Morgan is my name by Sophie Keetch is an absolutely wonderful version of Morgan Le Fay’s story. Unputdownable and gorgeously written.
Continue readingReview: The Witch’s Path
Whether or not you’re feeling stuck in your witchy or Wiccan path, do yourself a favour and buy this book.
Continue readingReview: The book of Cernunnos
A very moving collection of stories of encounters with Cernunnos, together with an analysis of what is known about him from history and archaeology. I’m glad people are willing to share such deep personal experiences, as it gives such a depth to books like this.
Continue reading
Dowsing for Divinity 