Customer Reviews

Cakes and Ale for the Pagan Soul: Spells, Recipes, and Reflections from Neopagan Elders and Teachers

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The newest entry in the books "for the Soul" is a book of collected experiences, stories, spellworkings and comfort food put together by Crossing Press and edited by our own Trish Telesco. The contributions are from some well known authors as well as some community elders.

The book is divided into themed sections, each containing some articles or essays. The topics covered are Path of Beauty, Wisdom of the World, Nature's Advisers, Community: Honor, Respect and Gratitude, Rituals for Life and Healing, Spells and other Sundries. These are all topics which would interest pagans of all walks of life and provide food for thought and meditation on our lives, our chosen paths and our world.

Some of the stories are personal experiences, crossroads in someone's life. Other stories are essays on our treatment of Mother Earth, the pagan community and the greater community of Humanity. Some are advises for pursuing our personal paths, "how to" articles on working rituals, and the usual "love" spells, recipes for the pagan passion of food or a quick remedy for a common ailment.

Most of the articles are short. This allows for mediation on the topic and some soul searching for inner truths if you are so inclined. There are some touching stories here, there are some moments of meditation and awareness. There is also some material here that begs for our attention and gives us some hard lessons.

The opening introduction by Trish Telesco is more of a statement on Neo-Paganism than it is on the contents of the book. There are statistics here that have no references to where they came from, while others seem to draw questionable conclusions. While it is true that there are probably more pagans than we roughly estimate, that paganism is a fast growing culture, and that the pagan religions are drawing much attention from various sources, we cannot draw any population conclusion based on the number of witch websites in Google or how many people are registered as pagans on a website. And while the actual numbers are unavailable and may spark some speculation, we need to remember that not everyone lives on the web.

However, it's not the introduction we are looking at. We are here for the content. With contributions by such well known authors as Margot Adler, Starhawk, Selena Fox and Dorothy Morrison, it is hard to ignore this book. The articles chosen fit the topics well, and while the articles may be short, they do provide much food for thought. After some of the stories, there is a small "project box" containing some kind of instruction to further your involvement with the topic discussed. After an article by Bonnie Jean Hamilton about Releasing your Fears there is a small spellworking to further your own personal work on fear. After an article on Discovery Through Dreaming by Ann Moura there is a small box on keeping a dream journal.

There are stories on personal tragedy, community ritual backfires, pagan protests, healing the healers, and more. There are outstanding articles by the likes of Jessie Wolf Hardin, Kristin Madden and Ashleen O'Gaea. There are also some gems by some lesser known authors like Ambrose Hawk and Precious Nielsen.

The stories cover the human community, the animals we love, the earth we cherish. There is much here in the way of positive affirmations and comments on the human condition. Personal responsibility, perfect love and perfect trust, and so much more that we hold dear are touched upon for our reflection.

There is appeal here for most folks following the pagan path who are looking for food for thought on their spirituality, their community, their lives and how interconnected this all is with our Mother the Earth. There is fluff amongst the trees of wisdom here as well, but that is the general appeal of books like this; that they have something for everyone. And I am sure if you pick up this book you will find a couple of articles or essays that will touch upon a particular string in your mind and it will harmonize with your own personal song. I do recommend this book for it's content, as it will also give you more of an insight into pagan spirituality and the pagan heart. This is a good presentation and one which I think you will find challenging and intelligent as well as inspirational and heart warming. boudica

I really enjoyed some of the pieces in Telesco's anthology, and feel they were worth the price of the book. The following selections are purely personal, but I felt Richardson was very moving, Starhawk most interesting, and Oberon Zell's brief piece was beautiful and peaceful, not soon forgotten. Precious Nielson also had an incredibly sad but revealing story to tell -she truly recreated the family she had lost with the snarling terrified cat and its kittens. Two other stand-outs - Dunham's tale of her miserable pregnancy, fear of labor and delivery, and the culminating transformation, and Adler's insights on the unexpectedly positive reactions of some of her nonpagan colleagues.

This book was mostly a pleasure to read. The title is really an adorable twist on the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" books. Many of the stories had me in tears, others were very inspiring. I felt good reading this book except for one entry."Elements: From a Christian Consecration Ritual" by Ambrose Hawk felt really out of place. It's rituals were definitely magical but definitely not Pagan. They invoked Jesus and YHVH and quite frankly made me uncomfortable. The name of the book is "Cakes and Ale for the PAGAN Soul" and I feel the book should have stuck with the promise of its title.The other writings were wonderful. I especially loved Jess Wolf Hardin's "Burden Basket"--about Kokopelli and responsiblity. These writing will make you laugh and they will make you cry. It's not a how too book, although it does include some oil, incense and food recipes and spells. It is not a Wicca 101 book but is perfectly suituiable for newcomers to read--and it is good for old timers as well. It is a new catogory of Pagan book, not beginner, intermediate or advanced.Its a book for everyone who wants a little soul-food.here is a list of the contributers and their contributions taken from the table of content:Patricia Telesco, "Crossing Paths: The Witch Within" and "And the Children Shall Lead Us"; Selena Fox, "Crossroads of Life"; Dorothy Morrison, "Fear's Ship" and "Love: Strawberry Mousse Romance Inducer"; Bonnie Jean Hamilton, "Facing Your Fear"; Loba, "Intimacy with Self and Others, Earth and Spirit" and "Dance from Your Belly"; Mama Doyi-Astarte, "Joy and Peace"; Alicia L Folberth, "The Goddess's Call to Service: She moves in Mysterious Ways"; Siryn Dolphinsong, "Family Riches"; Katelan V. Foisy' "Children's Perspectives"; Shae Moyers RIghtmire, "Goddess Gifts: ALigning with Moneta Energies"; Jesse Wolf Hardn, "Commitment" and "Burden Basket"; Lady Willow' "Mindfulness"; Gail Wood, "Sweet Dreams: A Journey to Restfu SLeep and the Wisdom of Dreaming"; Ann Moura, "Discovery Through Dreaming"; Bev Richardson, "Tears"; Phyllis Curott' "Encountering the Divine in Nature"; Earthwizard, "Earth Religion in the Modern World"; Kristin Madden, "Man's Best Friend" and "Sound"; Branwen, "Furry Friends: Teaching Online"; Marian Singer' "Nature's Sense of Humor"; Oberon Zell-Ravenheart, "The RIver"; Janina Renee, "Weather Magick" and "Luck: Golden Sunshine"; Jennie Dunham, "The Snakeskin"; Cinnamon Moon, "Community/Unity"; Precious Nielsen, "Decency: A True STory of Goodness and the Power of Love"; Ashleen O'Gaea, "Magick and Community, Incarnate and Incarcerated"; Carl McColman, "Nurturing the Nurturers"; Starhawk, "Pagan Cluster in Calgary: A Short Report on the G8 Protests"; Laura Perry, "Stone Soup Casserole"; Ardy, "Touching the Community, and the Community Touching Me"; Mike Short, "Yuletide" and "Homegrown Cough Syrup"; Ambrose Hawk, "Elements: From a Christian Consecration Ritual"; Christina Linka, "Fire Scrying: Sophia's Legacy"; Rowan Hall, "Goddess"; Margot Adler, "Using Pagan Ritual in the Real World"; Judith Lewis, "Blessings and Protection"; Terrilyn, "Christmas Story"; Tamarack Song, "The Gifting Way: How Abundance Came to Me"; Jamie Wood. "Healing with Magick"; Selene Silverwind, "Love, Pagan Style"; Christine Jette, "Tarot for Healing" Overall, I recommend this book for some light and inspiring reading--just skip that one entry.

I agree with both previous reviewers in that this book is not one to miss. The diversity of voices is wonderful and gives you a peek into our leaders, teachers, and facilitators in a whole new way. I like the fact that even Christian-flavored Wiccans are included here in that it reveals our diversity, and our ability to find beauty in that diversity (and hopefully learn from it).

I was particularly touched by Hardin's, Bev's and a few other pieces, but I think that each person will find stories that inspire them depending on what's happening in your life right now. Read it again in a few months - and others may jump out. This is a great tome to keep next to your bed and finger through to find that right "soup" to feed your need and open up new ideas.

This book was the most wonderful book I have ever read. I keep a copy with me at all times. It pages are filled with love and knowledge and things that enrich my life. I could not imagine my life without it

Very nice book to pick up read a few passages when you are feeling in need a lift. Helps you remember why you choose to believe in magic.

This is a nice change from reading the BOS' and spellbooks...
good short antidotes to warm the soul.

I can't believe that I have never seen this book in the bookstore before, especially these days when there's such a multitude of New Age and Spirituality books around. I first saw this book online and was intrigued and encouraged by other reviews to buy it. I am so happy that I did.

This book is a good mish-mash of things, and provides lots of interesting perspectives on the neo-Pagan movement, especially in the United States. There is some "fluff" to be found, as one reviewer pointed out, but there are a lot of nuggets of wisdom found within. One of the most touching things for me, as a solitary practicing witch, was to read about how other people came to discover Divinity within their lives. It is amazing to see how all our stories intertwine, and how we all come to the Goddess/God, and comforting to know that there are like minded people in the world, outside of the small Pagan community where I live. I especially liked the story: "The Goddess's Call to Service: She Moves in Mysterious Ways". I also liked: "Children's Perspectives", because it reminds us that young children are so often more like sages than we give them credit for. I also am a fan of "Encountering the Divine in Nature", written by Phyllis Curott, who I cannot praise enough as one of the most insightful, wise witches of our time.

There are many other stories that I liked, and a few that I did not care for, but overall I really liked this book. It is a great departure from the "Do this, do that" instructional books that are put out nowadays. The exercises in the book are more like suggestions than rigid guidelines. This book really captures the spirit of our movement in all it's great diversity.

Peace to You,
April

This is an excellent short book on contemporary pagan thought.This book reminded me of the work,'Being a Pagan'.Yet,this book is more personal and less about the formal pagan dogma.There is well over fifty different magickal writers reflecting on their personal experiences as a natural 'Heathen'.I thought there would be more recipes and spells presented,however,this worthy reading is about the struggles and triumphs they weathered.There are only a few potions,rituals,and incense blends discussed.They are new ones that were interesting to read about anyway.I would get the book again, for the fact that, it has a wide varity of thoughts about neopagan faith and modern witchcraft.The name 'witch' still arouses angst in some,and this book helps dispell any fears about wiccans.Wicca is an Earth-based non-christian religion.All media stories about 'satanism',really involve 'christian-satanists'. Any story about 'devilish wiccan malefactions',involve people who are bi-polar and troubled.As a modern pagan,i say 'to Hell withe the Devil'.I hope this fine book inspires curious readers to follow the Craft.Many people are turning away from Christianity.For a pagan,one would think that this would be great for the pagan community .Yet,atheism is very much on the rise.To me people turning away from and denying Nature ,is flat-out dangerous too.This wise pagan book will help persuade any atheist that people need spiritual faith in their lives

When I saw the title of this book, I expected it to be a "Chicken Soup for the ___ Soul" type book. I expected to read a bunch of short stories of the heartwarming (and possibly a little sickeningly sweet) variety, told from the pagan point of view. However, the book had a bit of a "soapbox" feel to me. It was full of articles, how-to rituals,(which are fine in their own right, but I wanted stories) and just an offhand mention of stories. I felt a little cheated, because I wanted a light hearted and fluffy, feel good book and got what felt a bit like a homework assignment.