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Tarot Theory and Practice

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THE SHINING ISLE - Supernatural / Magical Realism

Among us walk a race older than time; called simply the Travelers they are theTuatha De Dannan, the Sidhe, the Fair Folk, and the Gentry; a race of inherantly magical - near immortal - people who remember when forests covered much of the earth and people revered the older gods and goddesses.

The Shining Isle is the story of Holly Tremenhere and the small island of Inishrún. Holly was awakened to the mysteries at a young age, but could not cope with their seemingly alien reality and turned away from them.

Now, disillusioned with the senselessness of day-to-day existence, she is ripe for change. Meanwhile, Inishrún has been targeted for takeover by those who do not understand its significance. The isle and its inhabitants harbor an ancient secret-one they will fight to the death to keep safe.

It is a book, ultimately, about the right of indigenous people to self-determination.

Reviews -

Subject: BOOK REVIEW - The Shining Isle (Novel)
From: gleason.mike@comcast.net (Mike Gleason)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan.contacts
Date: Feb 25 2006 15:44:27


Ms. De Angeles tells cracking good stories about The Travelers, a group of people (shapeshifters, the fey, and dreamers). She began their tales with The Quickening. This story is not exactly a sequel to that book however.

This is her second "urban fantasy" and, personally, I hope there are more to come. The smoothness of her storytelling, the apparently effortless combination of 21st century life with that of the Sidhe, and the Old Gods, makes this a series which can be read on several levels from simply a good story to a way to inspire a closer connection with ancestral beliefs. There
is less "urban" in this book than in the previous one. Most of the action occurs on the island of Inishrun , with only an occasional foray into the city of Rathmore . And I suppose it depends on how you define "fantasy." So, maybe "urban fantasy" isn't the best way to describe the book. But, it is probably the most accurate since it occurs in the "real world" and not some other realm.

She displays an impressive ability to meld seemingly disparate elements into an entertaining story, with enough realism to make it believable. The last time around she blended the worlds of Wicca, Christianity and Voodoo (among other elements) seamlessly into a good story. This time she blends the life on an insular group of island people with the interests of academia and the business world. Talk about very different points of views!

We discover some of the history of Connor and some of the other Travelers. But it really isn't possible to do justice to almost a millennium of existence among humanity without the love and companionship of one's own kind, as Connor has endured. But this is only a small part of the overall story.

The story of Samhain, needfires, the Sidhe; and the Tuatha de Danann are all part and parcel of this story, and Ly tells it in a way which makes it come alive, as much as the written word can. And that is another of the truths to be learned from the continuing story of The Travelers. There are many truths revealed, and even more are hinted at.

Ms. De Angeles has found an entertaining way to pass along knowledge which has been slowly disappearing from our world for centuries. For most readers her stories will be just that - stories. Some readers will question whether some of the things could be true. And a few readers will find the reality, and recall the way it once was.

There are a few surprises in this book, not the least of which is the inclusion, after the story ends, of the entire text of the "United Nations Declaration of Human Rights." Ms. De Angeles also includes a "Glossary of unusual terms" which allows her to use some Gaelic words in the text without having to break the narrative flow to explain them. She also supplies some
Internet references to explain the way of life followed by many of the characters in this novel. I wouldn't have expected these inclusions in a "normal" novel, but they were certainly a welcome addition.

 

Llewellyn Worldwide USA

THE QUICKENING - Urban Fantasy / Magical Realism

Most people see the Travelers as a ragged bunch of musicians, artists, and fortunetellers crossing the country in an old double-decker bus, but these magical creatures are actually the Sídhe, the Fair Folk, an ageless, magical race.

On an unforgettable night of murder and mayhem, Kathryn meets the Travelers and awakens to her true Fey nature. She and her witch-friend Merrin help the Sídhe find the ones responsible for the bombs, fires, and terror wreaked on the Southside of New Rathmore. Trouble escalates when Robin, son of Puck and Hunter the forest god, is kidnapped. Is Michael Blacker's Fundamentalist Christian cult behind these despicable acts? Can Hunter and the Sídhe rescue Robin before the young god becomes another casualty of this twisted "Inquisition?"

So much of others' work that I have read and studied talks about the Mysteries of the West in the past tense: "The Celts did this . . ." "Brighid was . . ." "The Sídhe were . . ." or else they transform the mighty Fae into "fairies" and make them out to be all very safe. Our goddesses? Often they are represented as holier-than-thou, or subject to right and wrong, claimable, identifiable, or brutal. The Quickening doesn't allow for compartmentalization or the nauseously predictable relegation to stereotype, and some people will doubtless find this offensive.
The story is also meant to remind us of the actual fragility and complacence of this age of electricity-dependence and, hopefully, raises questions regarding alternatives - or at the very least, back-up contingencies - just in case. It also asks us to be aware of the extent to which religious extremism could go (because it has and does and can) in its arrogance.
Set on the streets of New Rathmore, The Quickening is mostly about the world today, and about extraordinary people who don't know they are; where the Otherworld is accessible down an alleyway; where a raven isn't always a raven and a wolf (that's really a god) can prowl the streets and not be recognized for other than how he appears.

The Quickening reminds us of just what wonder goes unrecognised if
a. Our culture continues to be in such a damned hurry, or
b. It continues to deny what, to many of us, is blatant

Reviews -

The Quickening is no ordinary story and those who are after a quick feel-good read may well be left confused and jaded. The Quickening is a journey inward, a holding up of the mirror, and a connection with the Gods in a modern setting. The lessons and statements are deeply woven into the storyline. Enjoyment and understanding will be greatly increased by having first read "When I See The Wild God", which introduces many of the characters and the concepts therein.

May I suggest that when you embark upon this read, that you cast aside the concept of reading for entertainment, and embrace the concept of looking into the depths of a sacred well. A highly recommended read for witches, seekers and pagans.
- - Fíor Féin, Australia

Llewellyn Worldwide, USA

PAGAN VISIONS FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

This collection of provocative essays on spiritual activism by Starhawk, Ly de Angeles, Emma Restall Orr, and other Pagan writers and scholars explores such diverse topics as magickal ecology, feminism, globalization, sacred communities, and environmental spirituality. This anthology is a call to action-environmental, social, and political.

Table of Contents -

Foreword - Dr Graham Harvey
Introduction - Thom van Dooren
Emma Restall-Orr - The Ethics of Paganism: The Value And Power Of Sacred Relationship
Akkadia Ford - Magickal Ecology: Future Visions from Ancient Egypt
Dr Susan Greenwood - "Of Worms, Snakes, and Dragons": Can Magic Lead to an Ecological Worldview?
Marina Sala - Towards A Sacred Dance Of The Sexes: An Integrative Perspective
Ly de Angeles - What Happens If Everybody Starts Telling the Truth? The Sacred Art of Communication
Dr Douglas Ezzy - I Am the Mountain Walking: Wombats in the Greenwood
Dr Sylvie Shaw - Wild Spirit, Active Love
Gordon MacLellan - Dancing In the Daylight: Wonder, Community and the Natural World
Starhawk - Pagan Politics, Pagan Stories: An Interview and Towards an Activist Spirituality
Dr Val Plumwood - Place, Politics and Spirituality: An Interview
Thom van Dooren - Dwelling in Sacred Community

Reviews -
"This is a much needed volume, which, when read with an open mind and heart, will assuage any fears of paganism one might have inherited from the biases of mainstream religion. At a time in our history when the cry of "holy war" is being used to justify destroying ancient civilizations, such a work as this is medicine for those who wish to co-exist on the planet, peacefully."
- - Luisah Teish, Faculty, University of Creation Spirituality and author of Jambalaya: The Natural Woman's Book of Personal Charms and Practical Rituals and Carnival of the Spirit: Seasonal Celebrations and Rites of Passage


The contributors ... are genuinely distinguished and established writers in their fields. They are positioning modern Pagan spirituality within central questions about the relationship between religion, ethics, and politics.
- - Professor Ronald Hutton Department of Historical Studies, University of Bristol, and author of The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles and Triumph of the Moon

Llewellyn Worldwide, USA

 

 

 

WHEN I SEE THE WILD GOD

ENCOUNTERING URBAN CELTIC WITCHCRAFT

Publisher Review -

Deepen your knowledge of the sacred mysteries . . . enter the space where nothing begins and nothing ends . . . reclaim your pagan heritage. A unique blend of witchcraft instruction, Celtic mythology, and urban fantasy, this work goes beyond ordinary witchcraft manuals. Ly de Angeles provides insight into the Celtic perspective of sacredness, and presents invocations, visualizations, and urban magic rituals for the equinoxes, solstices, and the four Fire Festivals.

Readers Reviews -

To Walk With Eyes Opened, September 22, 2004
Reviewer: Mark Timmony (Sydney, NSW Australia)

Some have looked at this book and thought it to be about Wicca. Indeed many people believe Wicca and Witchcraft to be interchangeable; this is not the case as Ly de Angeles' book WHEN I SEE THE WILD GOD - a companion, and brother to her earlier work WITCHCRAFT, THEORY & PRACTICE - eloquently demonstrates.

There is a primal spirit in Witchcraft that practitioner's of Wicca (in my opinion) shy away from. WHEN I SEE THE WILD GOD brings that primal energy to the reader in abundance, which is a telling feat as most of the chapters are rather short. Ms de Angeles writes with a potent understand of language and word-magic. She is able to express ideas that would take some writers pages to get cross, in concise verse that doesn't assume you - the reader- have an IQ of a 14 year old. Rather Ly's writing comes across like a seed, it implants within the fertile mind of those with the ears to hear and the eyes to see, and takes you on a strong spiritual journey as it deepens and you, and it, grow.

Yes, this book is bound to the Celtic tradition of which Ly de Angeles has spent the majority of her life following, studying and living. Rather than being presented with a hodge-podge of differing and even conflicting deity, Ly presents a rich tradition, and a history that is alive and vibrant.

WHEN I SEE THE WILD GOD is a book that bridges the gap between the strength of an ancient lineage and the primordial yearning in the soul of the seeker - who has been searching but not finding in the mass-market rubbish that has been positioned in today's marketplace. If WITCHRAFT, THEORY & PRACTICE can be described as a primer then WILD GOD is bonfire that lights for us a path that has been beckoning but lost to the shadow cast by society.

If you are serious about calling yourself a Witch, if you have heard the voice of the Gods in the wind, in the trees and through the roaring of the traffic in the congested streets of our concrete jungles, but have been unsure how to answer them, then buy yourself this book.

For as Ly says: "If the magic believes in you, how can you not?"

Review -

Absolutely Inspirational!, July 16, 2004
Reviewer: A reader
Those familiar with the writings of Ly de Angeles will not be surprised at the depth and thought provoking style found within the pages of "When I See the Wild God". It is just what we have come to expect of this unique Lady, Witch and High Priestess. Those who have yet to experience the writings of this Australian author, are in for a life changing experience. Ly de Angeles aims her words at those who think and question, those who challenge and those who walk their own path and to their own tune.
Though "When I See the Wild God" is a work it its own right, it is the perfect accompaniment to the author's previous work "Witchcraft Theory & Practice". If you haven't read this latter text, my advice is, get a copy.
"When I See the Wild God" celebrates the sacred masculine; that which is powerful, raunchy, honourable & strong in both male and female. It would be a mistake to say that this book is only about "the God", for the Goddess strides through these pages too. The focus however is as the title suggests, upon The Wild God. Readers, both male & female who celebrate the masculine along with the feminine will have a sense that at last, the God of the witches has been given the attention he deserves. Those, who for whatever reason have yet to experience the heady embrace of The Wild God, will come to realise that they have only been enjoying about 50% of what witchcraft and paganism has to offer.
The novice will find within the pages of this book, enough practical advice to help them start along the path of their sacred journey. The more adept will be carried to new levels of understanding and ever unfolding wonder.
One of the things that make this book unique is Ly de Angeles' way of bringing the Déithe (the Gods) to you... right to your front door. You will never again think of the Gods as being remote, unreachable on some other plane, or anchored in the country of your distant ancestors. You will come to understand that the Gods of your heart are with you, regardless of whether you walk the misty shores, the dry deserts, the dense scrublands, the urban sprawl of your hometown, or the chaos of the large city. You will find yourself looking out for them, wherever you are.
From an Australian reader's point of view, it is always a rare treat to find books that acknowledge the fact that people actually live in the Southern Hemisphere, let alone witches and pagans that often feel completely ignored by other authors. The sections with a truly Australian flavour will delight local and international readers alike and invoke some good belly laughs along the way.
"When I See the Wild God" and "Witchcraft Theory and Practice" are without doubt my two most treasured books on the subject of witchcraft. They offer something that I have yet to find in any other book.
Just get them!

Llewellyn Worldwide

WITCHCRAFT THEORY and PRACTICE

 

Editorial Review -

The thinking person's approach to Witchcraft, this manual to the theory and practice of Witchcraft is aimed at the serious student: specifically, the practicing Witch. It is written conversationally, taking to the individual as though the student were being trained through the author's coven.This manual of the theory and practice of witchcraft is aimed at the serious student. Written conversationally, it trains the student through the author's coven, covering the philosophy and the disciplines involved, from the meaning and practice of ritual to successful spell-crafting.

Readers Reviews -

A must-have.
The thing that I noticed when begining to read this book was the author's way of being able to set an almost mystical mindset for the reader virtually from the start. Her way of presenting the material in this well-written book makes it seem as if it flowed from hand to pen with effortless ease. Yet with that being said I also state that this is no "fluffy Bunny' approach to Witchcraft, either. In reading this book it does not take much to realize that the author is a Craft practitioner of the highest calibre. She approaches the material in her book in such a way as to teach the reader her material from the heart. There was information in this book of a nature that in 14 years of intense Craft training from MANY mentors I had not seen before. All I can say is that this book shall become a much appreciated member of my personal library for years to come.

Return of the "art"
So many new age books on witchcraft and the wiccan beliefs somehow lose something along the path to completion. Not so with this work, it is at once complex and simple. This book will provoke thoughts from both those new, and old to this way of life. If you are just starting out, be ready, this book will demand you THINK, give you some very important tools, but more important, guide you so that YOU learn to use them. If you are one old in knowledge - read with an open mind and remember the night that you rode to the sea, danced under the moon, embraced the flames, or whatever that moment was for you.
This is a book I think few who study this way (and aren't we all perpetually "studying" our chosen way?), will not expand from. I found it touching me in ways most only wish to.

This is a Must Have
This book is a Must Have, especially if you are an Australian witch, or one living in the Southern Hemisphere.
This is without doubt the most honest, down to earth book on witchcraft I have read. It has not been written for those who wish to leave their brain in a jar at the door. This is the thinking witches book. You will not find fluffy-bunny excuses, nor will you find cute love spells within its pages. What you will find though, is a very sold & sensible foundation for you to place your feet upon as you travel the Way of the witch. You will also find some truly beautiful rituals which hopefully will stir something special deep within you.

 

 

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