judika

Wise Thoughts for Every Day: On God, Love, Spirit, and Living a Good Life
$15.99
This is the classic that should be on every nightstand, or near your desk. Tolstoy's unorthodox re-take on Christianity is incredible. He places the simple and straight forward message of Jesus in the proper perspective for all time - no need for miracles, no need for fancy dogma -the message comes through in a timeless fashion (as it should).

J. Forrest Young

The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft: The Complete A-Z for the Entire Magical World
$29.95
As a fiction writer looking for witchcraft reference sources to help construct a plausible witch mythology, I have been disappointed to find that much of the witchcraft material available is extremely limited in scope. There are very few books that even contain the variety of subject matter I need, and the ones I have found so far are organized alphabetically so that if I don't know the name of the specific aspect I need to learn about, I'm out of luck.


In "The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft: The Complete A-Z for the Entire Magical World", I've found EXACTLY what I've been looking for: an overview of all things witchcraft organized by topic, and an EXCELLENT bibliography.
In addition to being an extremely entertaining read, I now have access to information about any element of witchcraft I need, along with the ability to explore a particular topic more in depth if I choose.

This is exactly what I wanted.

The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells: The Ultimate Reference Book for the Magical Arts
$27.50
This is a fabulous resource for anyone interested in wicca and the like. It's recommended over and over again by people who have been practicing for years. The spells themselves are interesting, but the introduction and other commentary almost intrigue me more. Very informative and useful. I really am enjoying this book.

Magic When You Need It: 150 Spells You Can't Live Without
$15.95
Under the guise of a calming garden, a crisis handbook exists. In the introduction to Magic When You Need It: 150 Spells You Can't Live Without, Judith Illes points out that the perfect time for performing spells is when the outcomes have become our most urgent needs. The same desperation that fuels our frustration can be channeled into spell work for intensified results. According to Illes, "No spell is as effective as an emergency spell; no magic is as likely to work." Magic When You Need It is a collection of 150 spells, targeting the key areas we tend to stress over as a society.

Because Illes assumes the reader has picked up the book in a harried rush, Magic When You Need It is short on introduction and philosophy. It dives almost immediately into the collection of spells, beginning with a most common concern: cash. The first money spell is simple, with little more requirements than paper, a candle and a few oils.

Other sections include spells for love, home, and trouble. These spells are very specific, targeting needs like fitting into a wedding dress or avoiding parking tickets. These are not general health and well-being types of energy focus. Pick any distinct need and there is likely to be a corresponding spell within Magic When You Need It. For most scenarios, two spells are provided, allowing the reader to use complementary magick for extra impact.

Each themed segment opens with a page of general principles. Colors, stones, numbers, and spirits that oversee each plane of need are listed as a starting point. The motions for the spells are very simple, most without mantra. The practitioner personalizes each spell with relevant incantations. Illes lets the reader know when a particular spirit or deity would be a helpful entity to call on.

As Magic When You Need It does not focus on any particular religion and draws on many resources, it can be used by anyone open to the gifts of metaphysics. An ample selection of oils and herbs is a necessity, however. Illes provides a Shopper's Guide with a listing of websites where ingredients can be obtained, as well as a Latin Botanical Classification guide for ensuring the correct plants are purchased. She has created a thorough emergency handbook for the dedicated practitioner.