The Great October Book Giveaway - Witch Work

The four names drawn this round were: Misty, Alex C, Corinn, and Rowan! Congratulations!

There are still plenty of chances to get some tricks or treats...stay tuned...as the moon rises tomorrow night another giveaway will appear!
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The warmth fled the day the exact moment the sun slipped down over the western hill. It was a breathtaking shift, the sort that gives a nod to the wintry tide ahead. Moisture hangs in the air tonight, an invisible curtain that is neither manifest or absent. The ghostly vapor is as much a part of the dark as the chill. And I can feel it all in the deepest part of me. 

It is my mother's people who sense precipitation in their bones. Any big storm coming, or when the weather cools enough to coax the dew into frost on the tips of the grass, will cause a ripple of ache to run up a leg or down an arm, a throb across shoulders or a pang in hip sockets. It's not uncommon, really. If you talk to an orthopedic doctor they will tell you that atmospheric pressure can affect the fluid around your joints, causing sensitivity or even pain. Some folks feel it. Others don't notice at all. In the old days, before we understood such things, it was just the knowing. I always thought it was magic when my mother would slowly rock, rubbing her knee, and say "must be rain." I started observing it in my own body when I was in my twenties. A twinge when the weather was going to take a dive. A dull ache in my hips before an icy drizzle or thick mist moved in. 

I am very much not in my twenties anymore, so there is poplar bud oil to rub into sore hips, and a mug of something warm to soothe the rest of me. Still, I rather like the signals my body gives me that connect me with the wider world. The joints that know when the weather is shifting. The senses that pique when something feels off. I have a keen nose (which can be a blessing and a curse) and I often catch scents that other people don't notice. These sensitivities might seem like odd, inherited family afflictions, but they can be beneficial in your witchcraft (or other spiritual or magical) practice, and the good news is many of them can be learned.

There are an enormous amount of books offering insight into direction and skill building when it comes to witchcraft. For this giveaway, I wanted to feature some of this year's releases that I think would be constructive for anyone mapping out their own practice. We have a book that navigates the pitfalls of this path and offers ideas for you to chart your own course, one that helps you work with your own inherent sensitivities, and another that gives you daily inspiration and ideas to explore. There's also a tool that can help you dig deep when you have a few too many questions. Let's take a look...

The Dabbler's Guide to Witchcraft: Seeking an Intentional Magical Path, was released as September faded away, and my pre-order appeared only days ago, so I am still happily consuming it whenever I have a chance to sit down. Even part way through, I can tell you that Fire Lyte has given us a treasure with this book. No topic is off-limits - he wants you to know exactly what you are getting into when you wander down this path. He weaves us through witchcraft in pop-culture and social media. Gatekeeping and hot takes. Scams, appropriation, and racism. He then leads us into the why of seeking witchcraft, and some of the tools, theory, and practices of the craft itself. If I were stumbling into the witch-verse today, fresh and innocent(ish), this is the book I would want thrust at me as a torch to help me see the way through the hazy maze of modern witchcraft, and to help me avoid some of the pitfalls. Even for those of us who have been on this path for many years, this is an informative, witty, and excellent read.

Anatomy of a Witch: A Map to the Magical Body, by Laura Tempest Zakroff, is a truly beautiful book about a topic that is often missing in witchcraft guides. The human body. From the lungs and our sacred breath, to the heart and the blood that moves through the whole of us, to the deep magic of our bones, Zakroff takes us on a holy tour of one of our most essential tools in working magic. There are sigils, exercises, prompts, and rituals included to further your practice, but the entire book itself feels like a wondrous spell. If you've ever wanted to connect more deeply with your body, or personalize your magical work in a more meaningful way, this is essential reading. I managed to snap up an autographed copy of this book for you, and Laura included a vial of her anointing oil, made specially for this work.

It is no secret that I love an almanac or a book of days. As a witch and fervent gardener I'm invested in the little daily rituals, celebrations, and important notes that mark the passing of time. Tell me where in the sky Venus is rising, and when the tide is coming in. Sing to me of best days for planting, and what mysterious saint has a feast day today. I adore it all. When I heard that Judika Illes had a new book coming out, I was excited. When I discovered that book would be a journey through each day of the year, marking stars, saints, and other observations, which included tidbits of history, folkore, spellwork, and magical recipes, I nearly fainted with joy. Daily Magic: Spells and Rituals for Making the Whole Year Magic is a witch's perpetual almanac, and it is a delight. Keep it handy and check in each day, or use it to track a series of days that are perfect for your current workings or projects. It also feels like the perfect tome for bibliomancy, if you are a fan of that sort of divination.

Speaking of divination...I have something special to share with you. The Sorcery Underground Fortune Telling Deck, by Brian David MacDonald is a privately created deck that was released in a very limited run (and is now sold out). It is a glorious blending of Major Arcana, Lenormand, and playing cards, into one wisdom-packed set that will delight even the most inflexible reader. You can separate the cards and work with the individual systems, or keep the lot together for a comprehensive look at your query. MacDonald has added a fascinating trio of extra cards into the mix, as well, to make things even more interesting. The little white book that was included with the deck offers up meanings for upright or reversal readings, as well as clever advice or methods for digging deeper into those cards. I've been running this deck in multiple combinations, and I know you will find so many ways to read with it!

Once again, your entry is your comment (including your email, listed in a safe manner). If you pass the word around (share to social media) then feel free to pop back and put your name in the hat again. As always, you can let me know which item tickles your fancy, and I'll try my best to match the winners to their choices. If you are just finding us and would like a more in-depth rundown of the mischief I'm up to here this month, you can scroll down to the bottom of the first giveaway post here and get filled in.

Please have your name in by the evening of Tuesday, October 12th. I will draw four names on Wednesday morning, contact the winners, and post the next giveaway on the evening of the 13th.

Legal Bits:

* This giveaway (or "sweepstakes") is open to all residents of Canada, (exluding Quebec residents) the USA, Great Britain, Europe, South America,  who are 18 years of age or older. This giveaway is void where prohitibited by law.  Please be aware of the contest/sweepstakes laws in your area.

*  Canadian residents will be subject to a skill testing question before being able to claim their prize (this is standard law in Canada).  The skill testing question will be in a form similar to: 1 + 2 - 1 =

*  This giveaway is not for profit and no purchase is necessary to enter.

*  This giveaway is sponsored/administrated solely by this blog/blog author and is not affilitated with or sponsored by Blogger, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or any other entity, nor can they be held liable.

* By leaving a comment intending to enter into the draw for the giveaway (or "sweepstakes") you are knowingly agreeing to these rules/conditions.

I have chosen all the books/cards featured this month myself.  I have not been paid to feature a book, nor have I been asked to advertise for anyone.  This giveaway is not endorsed or sponsored by anyone other than Rue and Hyssop.