Reviews

A Witch's Book of Dreams by Karri Allrich ISBN: 1-56718-014-0

Karri Allrich empowers you.

She shows you how to discover a deeper way to interpret your dreams - to unlock your own spiritual self and truly see what it is your dreams are showing you.

Unlike other books on dream interpretation, Karri Ann doesn't tell you what your own personal symbols mean instead she guides you, through her own eyes to see how she interprets and invites you to follow her process. I found the way she explains her methods to be extremely simple to grasp but don't think for a moment this is a 'simple' book...it's depth is truly an eye-opening experience.

You don't need to be Wiccan to use this book. Being open to the opportunity of learning from your own dream experiences is all that is required! Unlock your shadows, expand your own spirituality and find a new way to look at the obvious using this book. Even your current relationships will be interpreted differently once you begin to embrace Karri's ideas.

For people interested in the Tarot, Karri explains the archtypes in an updated way which allows you to really grasp the essence of them. I know many people who have difficulties really understanding the 'court cards' - I suggest you allow Karri to shine her light - I doubt you will look at the Tarot or your dreams the same again!

In Karri's own words...her book is summed up nicely...

"Books are symbols of knowledge and wisdom. And knowledge is power. Contemporary Witches often educate themselves through voracious reading. A collection of books can mean a wealth of knowledge, ancient secrets, a desire for learning, growth and development." Karri's personal dream interpretation for 'books'.

much light, Aleesha Stephenson

The Inner Mind Revisited: Researching the Soul A.L. Ward ISBN: 1-4033-8761-3

Author and hypnotherapist A.L. Ward's book, "The Inner Mind Revisited: Researching the Soul" is a fascinating read. Though the book sets out to explicate the research results of the hypnotherapy that A.L. Ward has done over the past 40 years, it is much more than a research piece.

The first portion of the book is a collection of anecdotes and stories experienced by Ward over his long and distinquished career. A former police officer, the author turned his interest and study of hypnotherapy into a full-time job and a four-decade obsession.

One of the most intriguing parts of this book is Ward's hypnotherapy work with his clients over the years. He outlines the evaluative process that he has developed during his career to help people deal with their illnesses. Through hypnotherapy, he is able to effectively reconstruct emotional, spiritual and physical deficiencies in a single session. Fine-tuning and honing his technique over the years, he learned to evaluate ailments based on their location in the body and their positioning on the right and left sides of the human frame. Many health practitioners may raise their eyebrows at his simplistic evaluative process, but the proof is in the pudding, as they say. Ward claims to have helped innumerable clients over the years with everything from tumors and multiple sclerosis to heart problems and phobias.

The latter chapters of the book outlines his work with past life regressions. One case that dominates the author's research in this area is with a seventeen year-old girl names Irene, who gave Ward access to a female spirit named Rebecca.

Through extensive and repeated regressions, Rebecca provided him with an opportunity to speak to powerful spiritual figures on the other side. These spirits gave him encouragement about his work, his path in life and the role of humankind. Ward's work with Rebecca also gave him wisdom about how things work in the hereafter.

All in all, A.L. Ward's book is a must-read for anyone who truly questions the meaning of their lives and what takes place after we die. This book is truly a mesmerizing work!

Reviewed by, Jeni Mayer

The Elements of Ritual by Deborah Lipp ISBN: 0-7387-0315-X

I cannot even begin to express the bold exhilaration I feel when I even so much as think about this book! Deborah has explained the fundamentals of Wicca in a way that is above the basic how-to. Rather than Wiccan kindergarten she has taken us to the next level of understanding. The way she speaks (or rather writes) to her reader is concise and thorough. She not only explains that something is so, but then does two things. She explains why and then explains how it is so.

Just the first portion of the book...the way in which she explains the four elements, is worth its weight in gold! Anyone who has never been able to memorize the elements and directions keeping straight which goes with which will not only remember what goes where but will also know why!!!

Her book continues throughout with the same common sense and understanding which allows the reader to 'get it' in a deep and meaningful way. This is not a book to be borrowed; it is a book to be owned!

much light, Aleesha Stephenson

The Sacred Circle Tarot; A Celtic Pagan Journey Book and Deck Set by Anna Franklin, illustrated by Paul Mason ISBN: 1-56718-457-X

The Sacred Circle Tarot is a deck for those looking for something different than the predominately Christian themes of most tarot decks.

This lovely deck was made by combining photos and pencil drawings with computer graphics and enhancements. Actual landscapes, sacred sites and symbols from Britain and Ireland's pagan heritage, it is the images themselves that make it such a special deck.

With its labyrinths, chalk figures carved in hills, stone monuments like those at Stonehenge, themes such as initiation, rebirth, the web of life and the world tree, this deck balances realism with a touch of magic.

The Sacred Circle consists of the usual four suits. Being very nature based, each suit shows a seasonal correspondence: swords as spring, wands as summer, cups as autumn and discs as winter.

Each of the suits can be easily identified by the images, color of the borders and decorative cornerstones. Wands are surrounded by fire, cups by water, swords by sky, discs by foliage and the major arcana, by stone. The major's borders are particularly attractive with natural elements coming out and in front of the border, giving the cards an added depth.

Each minor arcana card has a keyword written across the top of it, giving a simplified meaning. While some newer readers may find them helpful, I find them to be limiting and hard to ignore.

There are the usual 22 Major Arcana, but the sequence and titles of several of the cards have been changed, to better fit the pagan theme of the deck. Most of the meanings however, remain close to that of traditional decks. For example, The Green Man replaces The Fool and The Druid replaces the Hierophant. As the devil was not part of the Celtic pagan tradition, The Underworld replaces The Devil card. Death is by no means frightening, but is of the harvest goddess preparing to reap the last of the grain.

The back is non-reversible, with the tools of the four suits on a gray stone background.

The 336-page book is full sized. A paragraph on the symbolism of each card is included. This was my favorite aspect of the book as I found the history to be fascinating. Each card also has paragraphs on the standard and reversed meanings plus an additional paragraph on the Journey of the Fool. Several fairly large spreads are included.

The cards themselves are packaged in an oversized, thin, white cardboard box. You will probably want to find an alternative way to keep them.

Despite having keywords, this deck has really grown on me. As a pagan, I can personally relate to its themes of journeys, growth, life, death and renewal.

Reviewed by, Toria Betson