The Veil’s Edge: Exploring the Boundaries of Magic

The Veil’s Edge: Exploring the Boundaries of Magic
By Willow Polson; Citadel Press (Kensington Publishing Corp.)

This book starts out with a brief lesson on science. Quantum physics to be exact. The author makes quite a good argument on the similarities between quantum mechanics and magic. She convinced me, but then again, I have always compared using magic to using electricity. Great when you know how to control it, but it can fry you silly when out of control.

The book goes on from there, getting weirder with every chapter. The author again and again warns those new to the Path to wait before trying the various exercises and the rituals are meant for covens and groups with experience only.

In this book we learn how to mend a tear in the fabric between the worlds. We learn about humans who are really Fea and other mythical creatures. We even learn all about controlling group dynamics when something or someone is “off”. There is a lot of information and quotes from various big name Pagans in the book.

I found the book on the whole a very good and easy read. I, however, am entirely too much a part of THIS world to attempt some of the more outlandish suggestions. Plus, since most of them are for groups and I am Solitary, I doubt it will be any time soon where I am even in a position to attempt the less outlandish rituals. If you are part of an established, (and I mean one that’s been around for years) stable coven, this may be a good book to have in your coven library. I’d buy a good salt shaker to go with it though.

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Circle of Five

Circle of Five
Dolores Stewart Ricco
Kensington Books Fiction ©2003What a surprisingly delightful book! The book begins with a prologue complete with a gruesome child abduction and murder. After that the story focuses on five completely believable women. Despite their varying ages and backgrounds, the women have been drawn together to form a coven. The women were drawn together because of their overlapping beliefs and needs, and like many of us, a witchy lifestyle just fit.

The magic they practice is completely ‘normal’. Their celebration of ritual and use of spell work could have been practiced by any number of real witches. Of course the book is fiction, so the characters and plots do take twists and turns that can hardly be described as everyday happenings. The reader follows the women through the Wheel of the Year as they use their magic and talents to help create a wetland sanctuary and catch the murderer we were introduced to in the first pages of the book.

I couldn’t put the book down. If you like books in the ‘to catch a crook’ brand, you’ll love this novel. Even if you normally don’t read this type of book, I strongly recommend it. I can’t wait for the sequel Charmed Circle due out in November of this year.

Magickal Arts

Magickal Arts
By Sally Morningstar and Laura J. Watts; Lorenz Books (Anness Publishing LTD)

This book is absolutely spellbinding in its appearance. The hard cover volume is stocked full with beautiful, full color photography and artwork. If you are looking for a coffee table book, then this is the one for you.

If on the other hand you are looking for a book with a little bit more substance skip over this one. While the pictures are breathtakingly done and the book design is masterful there is little more than your standard spells and charms and other such stuff in the first half of the book. The meditations are a little better than the spells but they all focus on preparation for love charms. The charms themselves are quaint little crafts, and if you have nothing better to do one afternoon, they may prove to be entertaining.

If you choose to use the spells in the book be prepared to open your purse strings. Each spell comes with a list of necessary ingredients. You will also be calling on the gods by their Hebrew names. If you are not calling on the Gods, then you will call out for the angels. There are quotes from the bible and sidebars with interesting bits of old superstitions like horseshoes. There is even a painting of St. Christopher.

The authors repeat some of the otherwise harmful misconceptions of witchcraft, among them the inclusion of the phrase “to the higher good of all” at the end of the spell weavings. I found the somewhat one sided out look of goodness and light to be much sugarcoated silliness.

If you want a book to look at the pictures, this one is perfect. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a book to bring you further along your spiritual path. this one falls very short of the mark. There are many better beginner books available.