The Great October Book Giveaway - Plant Lore

Congratulations to Fringe Nymph, Andrea Kiss, Sidur, and Tooshytospeak! Check out your inbox for the prize you won! 

If your name didn't get drawn, not to worry! There's plenty of fun left! The next giveaway will be arriving as the skies darken on this 6th October eve... 

_______________

​The sky turned indigo only a short while ago, and the warmth of the day has seeped away as the cool flesh of evening continues to press against it. I can see my breath in the air tonight, curling and dancing away from me as I watch the stars appearing. It is the first day of October, and everything feels more sharp and in focus. Gone are the hazy, late summer days with their perfect Instagram-filter afternoon light. The dawn seems to leap up, directly from the dusky dregs of night, and there is very little twilight now - just a short moment of deepening blue, and then all is dark. But that's the sort of thing we like about this month. We are weary of the brightness and the oppressive heat (in the northern hemisphere, at least). Some part of us calls out to feel the sharp kiss of a cool breeze on our cheeks, and we luxuriate in the longer hours of darkness.

The Wild, in flesh and in the not-so-physical realms, feels close enough to touch. We hear the owl and coyote hunting again, now that the constant buzz of the warmer months has faded. It is the season of last preparations, bringing in the final harvests, and shoring up the edges of our living spaces for the cold days ahead. We set our wards, gather our wood (or candlelight), and hang our charms at doors and windows. Gourds tumble out of farm stands and show up on porches. Strange creatures arrive at our doorsteps looking for candy offerings to dissuade them from wreaking havoc. We gladly partake of all of it, knowing that these customs and practices keep us and our spirit(s) fed, and maintain a spark in the darkest season.

Each October I kindle my own cozy fire in this place. I surround myself with books and blankets, oracular helpers, and talismans. And I set about making a welcome space for all kinds of spirits so I can share my harvest. It's been a very long year already, in some ways. But I've always been refreshed by autumn, this month in particular, and I think I may be finding my second wind. 

For those that are new here, it should be fairly easy to follow along. To those that come by each year to join in on the festivities, welcome back old friends. 

I have a quartet of delights to share tonight that I know will tickle your fancy. There is folklore and history, magic and mystery, and all of it revolves around the wondrous plant people that populate our world. 

For our first October giveaways:

An anthropologist and world traveler digs up the history and deeply meaningful stories of wild food in Feasting Wild, by Gina Rae La Cerva. A gorgeously written book about where connection and culture come together with food, medicine, and magic. 

The Materia Medica Oracle, from Josie at Tenderheart Studio, is in its third printing and routinely sells out whenever this visionary artist and witch creates a new run. Simple, yet powerfully beautiful illustrations reveal an assortment of plants with a message from each. The enclosed guide books (this deck contains all three volumes and their corresponding guides) detail the medicinal, emotional-spiritual, and magical personalities and qualities of each featured plant. It's a truly lovely deck to work with.

Fez Inkwright is the illustrator, botanist, and folklorist behind two bewitching tomes published by Liminal 11 - Botanical Curses and Poisons, The Shadow-Lives of Plants, and Folk Magic and Healing, An Unusual History of Everyday Plants. Each book looks at the stories, history, and uses of certain plants, and is peppered with poetry, folkore, and fascinating tales. They are both bound in exceptionally pretty covers with copper foiling. The endpapers are gasp-worthy and the illustrations throughout are entirely wonderful. Either book would be an excellent additon to your herbal or witchcraft bookshelf.

Please do pop through to the links if you'd like to get a better look at the books, cards, or their authors/creators!

You have five nights, until the evening of Tuesday, October 5th, to get your name in the witch's hat (the comment box below) and then I will draw four names at dawn on Wednesday, October 6th and dole out the prizes, and then post the next handful of goodies up for grabs.

You are welcome to let me know which item you would prefer to have if your name is drawn. I can't promise that you will get it but if I can match winners with prizes I try to do that.

Thank you for joining me again in this most magical month!

For those of you that are new here, this is how these giveaways work:

We are running a simple game again this year - your comment counts as your entry. However, if you feel moved to share this around (either a specific giveaway or if you just send folks my way) you can leave another comment letting me know you spread the cheer, and I'll toss your name in the hat a second time.

On the evening of the draw, the winners will be notified via email and their names placed at the top of this post and the next handful of goodies will go up for grabs. Please, please, leave an email for me in your comment (in a safe format such as "JenLovesBooks at gmail") if your name does not directly link to you/your website. I can't tell you how many names I've drawn only to find that I couldn't contact the winners. I simply draw again, but it is rather heartbreaking to see the first name get tossed.

There are occasionally some goblins that stop by in October, just for kicks. I am taking down the comment moderation security and we will hope that we skate under the spam radar again this year. Also, Blogger doesn't always play nice with every app, so there are times when you may have to come to the giveaway page directly (not via the FB app, for example) and leave a comment that way.

As always, if your privacy is of concern or if you simply cannot get your comment in on the current giveaway post for some reason, you can send an entry in using the "Make Contact" form in the sidebar.

All mail will go out within five business days of receiving the winner's address and will be sent via the most reasonable shipping rate. Please note that your parcel could take anywhere from 5 business days to reach you (in Canada) to five weeks (if you are in the EU).

Because it was a question last year, please note that all items are new, unread, and un-used. They are shipped out in padded envelopes or boxes, wrapped well, so that they may arrive to you in the same shape as I received them. Sometimes there are minor bumps or imperfections on books when they arrive to me and I'm afraid I cannot do anything about that, but all items go out in good shape.

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.

The Great October Book Giveaway - The Magic of Blacktree Coven

Thank you so much to everyone for joining me for another Great October Book Giveaway! I wish I had treats to send to everyone who stopped by to toss their name into the hat or wish me some October cheer!

The two folks taking home the prize packages are:

Flutter
Jenny Rosa

and I've got a special treat - a third copy of Besom, Stang & Sword! I pre-ordered a copy of the book when it went up for sale last autumn but was then supplied a copy by the good folks at Weiser, so I have a brand new book here waiting on a home.

That copy will be going out to Theresa N.

Thank you again, for always making this month so much fun for me! I hope November is extra nice to you, and you get some rest in before the next holiday season arrives!





We have come to the last days of October. The sky is a purple bruise as I write this, and a cold wind grabs at the tree limbs outside my window. Dusk is creeping in earlier each day and the morning dawns sharp and frosty, having gnawed the few stalwart plants in the garden until they have curled in on themselves in a feeble attempt at protection. There are folks who are morose at the sight of all this decay but I am a grinning fool as I walk by dry, whispering corn stalks and apples left to rot on the ground. I am endlessly fascinated by the cycle of my valley - how the land blooms and thrives, only to drop itself into deep sleep (or seed itself and release to death) and awaken again in the spring. Every chapter closes, but there is always a new page waiting to be turned.

So too, have we arrived at the last gasps of our month of giveaways. I have something that I think is really special to round out our October fun. Two very magical gift packages have arrived from the extraordinary folks of Blacktree Coven. You may know them better as Christopher Orapello and Tara-Love Maguire, the brilliant minds and voices behind the occult podcast Down at the Crossroads. Chris and Tara published their first book together at the close of last year and I've wanted to pass out some copies ever since I first heard about it.

Besom, Stang & Sword: A Guide to Traditional Witchcraft, the Six-Fold Path & the Hidden Landscape has been raved about by some of my favourite magical folks since its publication. And for good reason. This is one of those rare witchcraft books that doesn't try to be either a catch-all of every sort of magic that exists, or The One and Only Authority™ on what a witchcraft practice looks like. Instead the authors delve into their own practice (which has coalesced in their coven, Blacktree) and share how they work with their landbase and the spirits they encounter there.

I was very fortunate to get a sneak peek at this work before it was published, and this is what I had to say at the time (and I still stand by it):

“What an absolute treat to the senses it has been to delve into Besom, Stang & Sword! This text presents a cohesive system of practice, thorough in exploring the fundamentals of magic, yet unafraid to delve into the dimly lit corners of witchcraft. Christopher Orapello and Tara-Love Maguire offer their own meticulously curated system based on theory, history, folklore, and trusted praxis. They cover an astonishing array of topics in a refreshingly concise manner and offer clear instruction along with their own rituals and spell work. What they present to us is intelligent methodology, and a powerful and spirit-fueled practice that reminds you that your tradition is a living creature to be respected and nurtured. Though a primer for their own magical system, there is no feeling of witchcraft-light here. This book encourages a deepening of your magic, a connection to your own bioregion, and a passion for the work you do with the land and your own spirits. This is sure to become a foundational text among magical practitioners. Orapello and Maguire have offered a treasure to their community with this tome. “Magick is magick” they say, and this book truly is just that.” 

I genuinely appreciated the way that Christopher and Tara-Love opened their door to us with this book. It's not often we get to see very deeply into the personal practices of public witches, but Besom, Stang & Sword gives us a glimpse of how a well functioning magical discipline can be formed. They are also eager to recommend alternate books/reading and openly supportive of you finding your own way to work with your land, history, and spirits.

I could go on at length about this tome, but I want to be sure to pass along the extra goodies too! Tara and Chris are not only authors and podcasters, but they are skilled in herbalism, alchemy, and art. They've come together in another bewitching project, "Two of Cats Apothecary," which allows them to share some of their ritual work and magical recipes with you. You can find them vending at local events in and around the New Jersey area, as well as online. And for this giveaway, you'll get a generous taste of their creations.

I have two fabulous prize packages to give away, direct from Blacktree Coven. You'll receive a copy of Besom, Stang & Sword, as well as two incense blends, a witch's salt blend, a witch's ointment, and a couple other little treats. You will have until the last moments of October fade away to get your name into the hat. I'll draw the two names and contact the winners on November 1st.

As always, your comment is your entry. You must provide an email address (in a safe manner) or a link to a functioning social media page where I can contact you. If you would like an extra entry, please share this post or any promotional information about our wonderful authors, and that will earn you a second chance at winning. If your privacy is of importance, you can private message your entry to me at the Rue and Hyssop Facebook page. Please note that if you win, the name you've given me will be posted at the top of this page.

I want to thank Christopher Orapello and Tara-Love Maguire for making this last giveaway so special. Do check out the excellent podcast, Down at the Crossroads, and their assorted social media haunts - they are some very fine humans, in my opinion.

Tara-Love on Instagram
Chris on Instagram
Down at the Crossroads on Facebook

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

The Great October Book Giveaway - Your Own Magic

The lucky folks taking home books this round are:

Backwoods Witchcraft - Elaine

Witch Body - Kelly M.

Good Juju - The Were-Owl

Stay tuned for the next round of October fun, which will pop up at some point tomorrow!




I'm not sure why, but there often seems to come a point each October where everything around me seems to vibrating in a frenetic symphony of breathtaking beauty, busyness, and strangeness. It feels as if at any moment all the whirling pieces are going to tumble to the floor in exhaustion. I'm surrounded by people who are battling their first cold virus of the dark season, my computer and wifi have been outright testy, the contact gadget on the blogging platform I use here has packed it in and doesn't seem to be interested in being re-installed, and I'm only managing to sleep in two or three hour increments. I'm picking up phantom scents, messages are sailing in from the beyond, and my readings and rituals have been exceptionally clear and effective. The lights in my home have been flickering and though I'm calling an electrician friend to take a look, I half suspect that the culprit is simply the spirited energy whirling around at this time of year.

Despite the weird-and-weary-ness, this month is the best taste of the season. October is the deep breath of fiery exquisiteness after the bright greens of summer faded to oceans of parched beige grasses and dull, dusty hills. September teased us with a fresh tide, but it is the colourful flags that October flies, barking and popping in the blustery winds, that make autumn extra special. The full moon last week was howl-worthy. The stars, on the nights that aren't cloaked in mist or clouds of woodsmoke hovering over my little town, are extra bright in the crisp air. The sounds of geese are fading, most of them having flown to warmer climes, and now we hear the questioning call of owls and the yipping echoes of the coyotes.

October is wild magic.

This next giveaway is about cultivating your own practice, and conjuring your own meaningful relationship with magic. It's about where you came from, what you've learned along the way, and the varied paths you explore as you experience the world. I have three books that look at personal magical practice from very different viewpoints, and I think there is something here for everyone.

First up is the wonderful Backwoods Witchcraft: Conjure & Folk Magic From Appalachia, by Jake Richards. Jake takes us on a tour of his roots, and the stories and ancestors that helped him form his practice. This is southern conjure territory, so if you shy away from dirt, bones, psalms, or fortune telling, then you might want to choose another book from the stack. (Though I think you'd be missing out on some good tales and fine charms, if you did.)

From the publisher:

In Backwoods Witchcraft, Jake Richards offers up a folksy stew of family stories, lore, omens, rituals, and conjure crafts that he learned from his great-grandmother, his grandmother, and his grandfather, a Baptist minister who Jake remembers could “rid someone of a fever with an egg or stop up the blood in a wound.” The witchcraft practiced in Appalachia is very much a folk magic of place, a tradition that honors the seen and unseen beings that inhabit the land as well as the soil, roots, and plant life. 

The materials and tools used in Appalachia witchcraft are readily available from the land. This “grounded approach” will be of keen interest to witches and conjure folk regardless of where they live. Readers will be guided in how to build relationships with the spirits and other beings that dwell around them and how to use the materials and tools that are readily available on the land where one lives.

Next up is Good Juju: Mojos, Rites & Practices for the Magical Soul, by Najah Lightfoot. Najah has an impressive and varied background of magical experience and she shares myriad ways you can create meaningful rituals and practices for yourself.

From the publisher:

Learn to better express your spirituality and build up your magical practice with this book's powerful spells, rituals, and tools. Designed to help you navigate whatever ups and downs life throws your way, Good Juju is your perfect choice for learning to embrace nature, the old ways, and the magick all around you. 

Using simple practices that don't interfere with any religions, Good Juju helps you lay a foundation for daily ritual work. You'll also learn how to craft mojos, create and work with altars, tune in to your intuition, and much more. Author Najah Lightfoot guides you in keeping your mind, body, and spirit strong as you discover your magical work and align with your higher power.

I'm entirely enchanted by this next book, Witchbody, by Sabrina Scott. The graphic tome is actually Scott's masters thesis, and is not only beautiful to behold but is a wild treat for your brain to wrap its tendrils around. I ponder something new each time I flip through this book. I wish I'd bought one of her original risograph printings when I first discovered Witchbody a few years ago, but I'm immensely glad that the good folks at Weiser picked up Sabrina's work and printed it for all of us to enjoy.

From Sabrina:

A RAMBLING & POETIC AUTOETHNOGRAPHY OF WESTERN OCCULT MAGIC AS A PATHWAY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING ADVOCACY 

The first graphic novel of its kind, Witchbody is a meandering synthesis of autoethnography, magic theory, and philosophical speculation. It is full of wonder at what it can mean to learn and teach and change and grow in this world which belongs to all of us: you, me, plants, trees, coffee cups and garbage bins. What can it mean to be a witch today, in the city?

I have one copy of each of these books up for grabs. Your comment here is your entry. If you'd like a second entry you can share this post, or any of the authors featured, to your favourite social media platform and then pop back here and leave another comment. Please include your email (in a safe format) or a way to contact you via social media so I can get in touch if your name is drawn. I apologize for not having the contact form up and running for this giveaway. If privacy is a concern you can send me a private message via the Rue and Hyssop page on FB and I'll add your name to the draw. You have until Friday, October 25th to jump in. I'll draw the names from the hat that night after 9pm Pacific.

Thank you so much to everyone who has been playing along, leaving kind comments, and sharing my yearly October celebration of books, witchery, and wonder. It makes me grin so brightly that you come back around each year and seem to enjoy this merrymaking as much as I do. We aren't finished yet!

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

The Great October Book Giveaway - Botanical Magic

The following folks will be taking home beautiful botanical goodies:

 Dionne B. - The Herbcrafter’s Tarot

 Crystal L. - Blotto Botany

 Emily P. - The Illustrated Herbiary

 Inari F. - Hedgewitch's Botanical Oracle

 Congratulations!

 For those who didn’t luck out this round, not to worry, there are more treats to be had! Soar by on your broom tomorrow eve and toss your name in the hat for the next giveaway!




 As I write this, there is a howling wind shaking the trees beyond my window. I'm always a little blue when the leaves are stripped from the trees too quickly by greedy gusts. I like to revel in the fiery autumn colours as long as possible. But tomorrow there will be piles of gold and scarlet to swish my feet through, and that is the sort of thing that offers up a good amount of joy. It's difficult to believe that this delicious month is half over already, but the fun is not nearly finished yet. There is still an armful of books and treats to be had around these parts.

I do want to make an important shift in the entry process for the remaining giveaways. I've pulled several names as winners this month that had no way for me to contact them when I followed their linked comment. It's terribly sad to toss a name away that could have received a lovely parcel. Starting now, you must supply either your email address in the comments (in a safe form such as "Jen AT gmail") or a way to contact you via a non-private social media account (for example: twitter.com/rueandhyssop). You may also enter the current giveaway by sending me a note via the "make contact" button up at the top of the page - this automatically provides me with a way to contact you if you win. (EDIT Oct 18/19: The contact form has crashed as of this post. Please leave your entry as a comment, or if we are connected on social media and you want to privately enter this giveaway, then feel free to DM me. I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and I'm working behind the scenes to fix this ASAP but the Blogger platform is being problematic.) Thank you for taking this extra step to ensure I can reach you if you win!

Now...on to the next giveaway!

This is the first year in some time that I haven't bought myself a large number of herbal books. I've been working with individual plants in my gardens and wilds, attempting to learn more about the plant friends I already know and love, one on one. I've brought a few new herbs into my toolbox this year too, but I've taken a short pause from stuffing my brain with information and wanting to work with all the plants I can get my hands on. I've craved some quieter, more personal study this year. (There are some gorgeous herbal books coming out next year so you know this won't last long.) My only purchases were two books and two botanical themed card decks, and the reason I bought them was because I saw them all over Instagram this year. The reviews were excellent and the artistry and design of each item were unique and beautiful. I've been thrilled with them, and I know you will be too. Let's take closer look...

First up is The Illustrated Herbiary: Guidance and Rituals from 36 Bewitching Botanicals, by Maia Toll, stunningly illustrated by Kate O'Hara. The book is a set that includes cards for each plant mentioned, which can be employed as an oracle if you so choose. The Herbiary is a visual delight and is primarily a journey of connecting with the herbs Maia has chosen to feature. If you are looking for a field guide or a medicinal or practical herbal to help you learn to identify and grow/harvest plants, this is not that book. At the risk of sounding a little flippant, this book and card set feels like ordering dessert before dinner. It's swoon-worthy and luscious, though it isn't going to keep you alive all on its own. I do think it would make a fetching gift for anyone who already has mad crush on the natural world, and I'm pleased to have my own copy.

Drink to your health, your ancestors, and your friends. Make zines, write daily, make plants and stay true to your own tastes and well-being.” - An excerpt from Blotto Botany

Photo by Gingertooth and Twine

Next up is an alluring tome that was hand illustrated, written, and assembled by Spencre McGowan of Gingertooth and Twine. Originally a self-published zine, Blotto Botany: A Lesson in Healing Cordials and Plant Magic, is Spencre's herbal log and list of yummy experiments that was serendipitously found and re-published as a book by Harper Collins. I found Spencre on Instagram after hearing folks talk about how charming and wonderful her book was, so naturally I had to pick up a copy (and one for you too). I've only just begun to try some of the recipes within but I've got a long winter ahead (if the birds and the caterpillars are telling the truth) and I can't wait to play with more!

The first of two enchanting card decks I have for you is the Hedgewitch's Botanical Oracle by Siolo Thompson. (Siolo is also the artist and creator behind the Linestrider Tarot which I've previously shared with you.) The Botanical Oracle seems both sharp and fluid at once. Thompson's art offers the realism you want when learning about plants, with a somewhat liminal feel that benefits divination systems. Though the beautifully hefty Field Guide that accompanies the deck gives you a very nice overview of the medicinal and folkloric uses of each plant/card, it also encourages you to sense the magic inherent in the plants yourself. I've found this deck very accommodating. It works beautifully alongside other decks and I've felt immediately comfortable working with it and interpreting its messages. I'm already very attached to this deck and wouldn't part with it.

This year I've tried to curb my tarot/oracle purchases. Instead, I spent time pulling out older decks that I wanted to give some love to and make better use of. I have only three new decks this year (thus far). A magical, personal-run deck that was gifted to me by a beloved friend, the above oracle, and this next tarot set. 

I don't know that I've fallen for a tarot deck this hard in a long while. 

The Herbcrafter's Tarot is a labour of love from Latisha Guthrie and Joanna Powell Colbert. These are stunningly drawn cards with powerful messages. The companion book is stellar (the sturdy box with internal ribbon-as-lift is one you'll want to keep) and gives you information about the card through the lens of the plant depicted. It also offers medicinal and magical histories of the plants, as well as giving you practical and ritual crafting ideas to work with the plant and energy of that card.

You'll experience tarot in a new way with the intricate system Latisha and Joanna have laid out. Please do yourself a favour and click through the links to see the gorgeous cards - my photo doesn't do them enough justice!

I have one copy of each of these lovely books and decks to give away. I'll draw the four names on Sunday, October 20th at 9pm Pacific. Please ensure your email address or contact information is included in your comment. Feel free to share this post or any of the author/artist's work online and return here for a second entry. You may let me know which deck or book you'd prefer and though I can't promise to make it happen I'll do my best to match winners with their choices.

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

The Great October Book Giveaway - Making Magic

The three people taking home a copy of Making Magic are:

Ellie
Lisa
Aurora

Thank you so much to everyone who stopped by to toss your name in the hat! Swing by again tomorrow for the next handful of delights!

Who has not been in touch with the extraordinary and extremely rare at least once? Who has not come through some kind of fire of the soul, or hoarded a certain treasure, or listened to a living wood?

Fairytales and folk charms, familial stories, ancestral practices, and the thump-thump of your heart beating in your chest as you feel the threads of magic twist around you, whirling up from some timeless place within you. You know it when you feel it. It's a recognition of something that seems like it has always been a part of you. It is the realization that when you were small you saw a grandparent perform a rite or incantation of some kind (though they would surely not have called it that). It is the remembrance of old songs or stories that were meant to keep you from harm's way, or heal you, or bring something back to you.

"Now it is time to remember our magic," Briana Saussy says, and the next book in our month of giveaways is one that will surely help you do that. Briana has been weaving magic for years, working in-person and online with folks all over the world. Her candle and petition work is renowned, her courses are unmatched, and she's a damn fine astrologer to boot. This past August she released an absolute gem of a book, "Making Magic: Weaving Together the Everyday and the Extraordinary," and I'm thrilled to be able to share some copies with you, thanks to the generous folks at Sounds True.

One of the things that I love about Bri is that she peels back the heavy curtain that others try to drape over magical practice, and shows how accessible and practical magic can be for everyone.

Magic, like all wild things, does not accept or settle into assumed roles, nor does it follow impatient demands. It goes its own way, making its home in all places where the everyday and extraordinary are woven together.

You can read an excerpt of this bewitching book here.

I have three copies of Making Magic to give away. Leave a comment (with contact info if you please) and I'll put your name in the hat! Share this post, or any of Briana's wonderful work, and circle back with a comment, and I'll put your name in the hat again. If you'd prefer to enter the draw privately, just use the "make contact" button up top. I will be drawing the three names on Tuesday, October 15th at 9pm Pacific.

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

The Great October Book Giveaway - Magic in Overlooked Places

The lucky book winners, this round, are:

Johanna L - The Wiccan Wheel Mysteries

Bella S. - pair of poetry books

kgkathands - The Lost Kitchen cookbook

I’ll be in contact with you shortly!

There seem to be some gremilins causing mischief...I’m having some difficulty with my laptop tonight, so the next giveaway will be posted tomorrow (Friday, October 11th). Thank you for your patience!





One of the things I love about magic, is that if you have your finger on the pulse of it - if you recognize that it bubbles up in unexpected places and threads itself through areas commonly overlooked - then you can find enchantment anywhere.

Normally this yearly giveaway is entirely populated with non-fiction books on magic and herbalism, with the occasional sway into witch-art of some form, and a few of the newest tarot or oracle decks I've found. I almost never include fiction or other genres, not because I don't read them or they aren't excellent sorts of books, but the bulk of my writing here at Rue and Hyssop is about my journey through the year in gardens, woods, and witchcraft, and so I generally stick to those themes. This year, however, there were a few authors/books from outside the usual non-fiction fare I offer that made a big impression on me, and I wanted to share them with you. They conjured the feeling that magic was afoot. That the authors were people who noticed the threads weaving the world together, who had touched the live wire of magic in one way or another (even if that's not what they would call it). Each of these books/authors gave me a thrill in some way and I know you'll adore them too.

It was early in the year when I heard about The Lost Kitchen and read the tale of a woman who had her heart broken and her dream crushed, who then found a way to rebuild. I was immediately enraptured by Erin French's journey. I set to searching out her restaurant and how someone might make a reservation (I'd long wanted to visit Maine, where she is located). It turns out that The Lost Kitchen hadn't just enchanted me. They were constantly booked up and still fielding calls for reservations, so they decided to hold a lottery for table seating. Last year twenty thousand postcards arrived on Erin's doorstep - each one a hopeful entry for a chance to eat one of her beautiful meals. (I'll be sending a postcard of my own next year!)

There is something extraordinary about a person who has seemingly lost out on the future they were building, only to discover that they could re-form or re-imagine it and it would unfold in even bigger ways than they could have anticipated. Erin began her 'secret dinners' in her apartment, expanded to a small retail location, was locked out of her dream only to move it into an Airstream trailer, and now cooks with friends for thousands of people each year in an historic mill in Freedom, Maine. Reading her gorgeous cookbook (with her amazing story included) is not just perusing a stack of tantalizing recipes, it's like curling up for tea with a friend that inspires you.

This summer was hard on me. I was knocked down in May and spent much of the following three months trying to keep my spirit light in the midst of heartbreak, funerals, and whatever hellish planetary bullshittery was swirling overhead. My salvation in the scorching months was a lawn chair in the shade in the late afternoon, a cold beverage, and a stack of books. I had a variety of poetry with me at all times, plus folk and fairy tales of every sort. They were what transported me to a quieter place where my mind and heart could find respite.

I was nearing the end of a pile of library books when I found myself thinking, "I need some fun, witchy fiction books to read." And just like magic an email popped into my inbox from Jennifer Hesse introducing herself and her books. I've already grabbed a few of her Wiccan Wheel Mysteries series for myself and I picked up one for you, too. Plus, Jennifer has been kind enough to send along a book for you as well! The series follows Keli Milanni, lawyer and practicing witch, while she navigates her way through assorted mysteries, messes, romances, and her own journey with magic. They were perfect summer reads and I know the two autumn-themed books I've got for you, Autumn Alibi and Samhain Secrets will be excellent for curling up under a blanket with in these cooler nights ahead.

Breakage - Mary Oliver

I go down to the edge of the sea.

How everything shines in the morning light!

The cusp of the whelk,

the broken cupboard of the clam,

the opened, blue mussels,

moon snails, pale pink and barnacle scarred—

and nothing at all whole or shut, but tattered, split,

dropped by the gulls onto the gray rocks and all the moisture gone.

It's like a schoolhouse

of little words,

thousands of words.

First you figure out what each one means by itself,

the jingle, the periwinkle, the scallop

       full of moonlight.

Then you begin, slowly, to read the whole story.

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to show some love to the poetry that kept my heart beating this summer. We sadly lost the beloved Mary Oliver in January, but her words live on in her thirty-plus published works. It was the opening lines of "Wild Geese" that completely shifted things for me fifteen years ago, and she still has the ability to make me gasp and sigh "yes!" to her observations of nature and the world. I'm passing along her collection of poems, "Why I Wake Early."

Along with Oliver's book you'll receive a book I brought home from Sleepy Hollow - a collection of captivating poetry from assorted authors, entitled "Poems Bewitched and Haunted."

From the publisher:

From Homer to Horace, Pope to Poe, Randall Jarrell to James Merrill, Poems Bewitched and Haunted draws on three thousand years of poetic forays into the supernatural. Ovid conjures the witch Medea, Virgil channels Aeneas’s wife from the afterlife, Baudelaire lays bare the wiles of the incubus, and Emily Dickinson records two souls conversing in a crypt, in poems that call out to be read aloud, whether around the campfire or the Ouija board. From ballads and odes, to spells and chants, to dialogues and incantations, here is a veritable witches’ brew of poems from the spirit world.

You can see both poetry books on the left side of the first photo in this post.

These three prizes: one amazing cookbook, a pair of fab fiction tomes, and bundle of two dreamy poetry books, contain their own variety of magic and I believe they will find homes with folks who know a thing or two about enchantment. They will be up for grabs until Thursday, October 10th, when I'll draw the names of the winners. Your comment is your entry, and if you should like another chance to win then simply share this post around however you wish and then swing back and let me know. I'll make sure your name goes into the hat again. Alternately, if you are having issues with leaving a comment, or if you'd prefer to enter privately, then you can send your entry via the "make contact" button at the top of the page. (Please note that if your name is drawn, I will be posting it at the top of the giveaway.) Feel free to let me know which prize you'd prefer. I try to match winners and books up, whenever possible.

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.

The Great October Book Giveaway - Historical, Ancestral, and Folkloric Magic

Thank you so much to all who were keen to start off this magical month with me! The next giveaway is now live, and as for the books here...they are going home with:

 Honoring Your Ancestors - Jennifer

 Southern Cunning - Heidi

 The Sleepy Hollow folklore books - Thistle

 Congratulations!

October has found us again. I am here, in my charming valley in the north west, snuggled in with fuzzy slippers and extra blankets pulled out of the wardrobe. September ended in near-constant rain and October arrived this morning with snow on the hilltops and ice on my car's window. I feel somewhat ill prepared for meeting the cold so soon, and I have been looking warily at the yard and gardens and noting the impossible number of tasks that might have been taken care of before the chill arrived. But there are better things to attend to than winter preparation. We have an entire month of harvest and haunts to celebrate!

Each year as I wander through social media, read websites and blogs, and listen to podcasts, I come across awesome authors, books that capture my attention, and card decks that tempt me to take them home. When I find something that catches my heart (or other bits) I try to grab a second copy to pass along to someone else. It's my small way of saying thank you to those who pop by my little spot on the interwebs here, or the kind folks who like, comment, or interact with me on social media. (Plus, I've always had a mad love of mail, paper, and packages, so this gives me an excuse to revel in those delights.)

For those who come back every year to celebrate this magical month with me, hello again old friends! And to those of you who are just finding this strange and celebratory place for the first time - welcome! Let's open the first chapter of this month and see where our story begins...

We start this delicious month off with a handful of books brimming with history, folklore, and ancestral veneration. Having just returned from several days in the history-and-legend-rich land of the Hudson River Valley I'm eager to share books that speak to connections with our past. What came before may seem to only have a tenuous connection with the here and now, but the past is still very relevant, and spending some time studying it can be a helpful and potent addition to our own journeys and practices.

Our first selection is Honoring Your Ancestors: A Guide to Ancestral Veneration, a truly beautiful book from Mallorie Vaudoise about connecting and working with your ancestors. It includes important topics like healing ancestral trauma and choosing to interact with ancestors not of your bloodline, as well as touching on various spirits and saints. I have not encountered such a rich and thorough examination of this topic before, and I know you'll really enjoy diving into this important work too.

From the publisher:

"Ancestor veneration is one of the most widespread spiritual practices in the world. This book shares the important distinctions between working with blood ancestors, lineage ancestors, and affinity ancestors while helping you recognize the signs that your ancestors are responding to your petitions and offerings. You will also explore important topics like mediumship and ancestral trauma so you can be sure to develop a veneration practice that's uplifting and affirming for you."

Next is the wonderful Southern Cunning: Folkloric Witchcraft in the American South by Aaron Oberon. I am endlessly fascinated by the deep magic that wells up under the land and spills out for those locals who are keen to listen for it, seek, and find it. Bioregional witchcraft is your witchcraft - it is the whispers of the trees in your town, the movement of the waterways that nourish you, and the stories of the place you lay your head. Getting to know your own local legends and history is invaluable when building a meaningful magical practice. Aaron digs deeply into the stories and important superstitions of the southern states where he makes his home, and the result is bewitching.

From the publisher:

"Southern Cunning is a journey through the folklore of the American South and a look at the power these stories hold for modern witches. Through the lens of folklore, animism, and bioregionalism the book shows how to bring rituals in folklore into the modern day and presents a uniquely American approach to witchcraft born out of the land and practical application."

My last selection is a haunting pair of books directly from Sleepy Hollow. I picked up two tomes during my visit, on the local folklore and legends of New Amsterdam and the Hudson River area:

Legends and Lore of Sleepy Hollow and the Hudson Valley - Johnathan Kruk
The Historically Annotated Legend of Sleepy Hollow - Washington Irving and Henry John Steiner

Both of these books are fantastically chock full of history and lore, and the annotated Sleepy Hollow has the added bonus of being Washington Irving's original ghostly rider story with the addition of a flurry of footnotes relating the historical accuracy that Irving's colourful tale sometimes chooses to ignore.

I have one copy of each book to give away (the Sleepy Hollow books come as a pair), and the three winning names will be drawn on Saturday, October 5th at 9pm Pacific. You can state in your comment which book you'd prefer and I'll do my best to arrange the winners with their chosen books but I cannot promise that will always work out


The important-but-tedious bits:

We are running simple game again this year - your comment counts as your entry. However, if you feel moved to share this around  (either a particular giveaway or if you just send folks my way) you can leave another comment letting me know you shared some October love, and I'll toss your name in the hat a second time.

On the evening of the draw, the winners will be notified via email and their names placed at the top of this post and the next handful of goodies will go up for grabs. Please, please, leave an email for me in your comment if your name does not directly link to you/your website. I can't tell you how many names I've drawn only to find that I couldn't contact the winners. I simply draw again, but it is rather heartbreaking to see the first name get tossed.

There are occasionally some goblins that stop by in October, just for kicks. I am taking down the comment moderation security and we will hope that we skate under the spam radar again this year. Also, Blogger doesn't always play nice with every app, so there are times when you may have to come to the giveaway page directly (not via the FB app, for example) and leave a comment that way.

As always, if your privacy is of concern or if you simply cannot get your comment in on the current giveaway post for some reason, you can send an entry in using the "Make Contact" button on the top of the blog.

All mail will go out within three business days of receiving the winner's address and will be sent via the most reasonable shipping rate. Please note that your parcel could take anywhere from 5 business days to reach you (in most of North America) to five weeks (if you are in the EU).

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.