Customer Reviews

A Charmed Life

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have read other of Ms. Telesco's books, and I find that this one is an excellent read whether one is new to the path, or has followed the path for many a year. Beginning with the introduction, you find you just want to keep reading. I highly recommend that you add this book to your personal library. It is easy to read, as well as understand, and leaves you wanting to read more of her writings. One truly realizes with this book, that she has "been there, done that" and gives helpful advice and guidelines.

A Charmed Life: Celebrating Wicca Every Day is a transformational book that includes spells, rituals, prayers, incantations, and helpful hints for creating and maintaining a health, happy, spiritual environment through the daily practice of Wiccan concepts and practices. An ideal introduction to Wiccan beliefs and lifestyle, especially for the urban Witch, Pagan, and Neo-Pagan, A Charmed Life is highly recommended for the novice Wiccan student and practitioner, and will be read with considerable interest by students of metaphysical studies and New Age life styles.

Ms. Telesco is one of the best authers to write about wicca. She wicca out of the just ritual trappings and teaches you to live wicca. The first part of this book is a great self help manual. She gives activities that every one should try. It will help you to see your self in a divine light, and make it brighter if you already do. She then gives examples of how to use daily chores such as cooking and clipping cupons in a magickal way. A great book for people who are finding it hard to apply magick in there every day lives. The God and Goddess are every were and all things are magick, even if it is only the laundry.

This is definitely a 101 book, but with a lot of heart. The author takes readers through a wise progression from within to without in a person's spiritual life. Lots of great ideas for urban living and a wonderful section on magickal families.

We all seek spirituality in our lives. That's why we follow the paths we do. We seek to incorporate into our mundane everyday lives a piece of the magic we have when we celebrate in our circles or perform special magic.

Some of us get lost from time to time trying to do this. We need guidance to help us see past the mundane, to guide us through the rough times. Some of us just need a place to start.

Ms. Telesco's book gives you not only a place to start, but an everyday reference book to incorporate simple magic in our lives.

Ms. Telesco makes this book easy enough to be understood and used by anyone, not just limiting these practices to those on the Wiccan path. Starting with self positive affirmations and personal improvement techniques, she covers home, office and group encounters. She explains the magic we should be seeking, shows us how to call it into our lives and then utilizes it for maximum growth of ourselves, our home and all that we touch.

She uses meditations, basic spells, some ritual work and even recipes. She also explains some of the basics of Wicca, in case we don't know, or have forgotten. We all encounter times when we have to explain either to ourselves or to others, what we are all about, our basic belief system and what we represent. Ms. Telesco includes some very clearly explained tenets of our faith, from holidays to ritual tools to symbolism.

Some of the ideas have been updated and brought into the 21st century, which may seem strange at first, but make perfect sense.

Which brings me to Patricia Telesco. As always, she has written a book to make sense of what may sometimes be confusing or much too mystical to be practical. Ms. Telesco has always brought common sense forward to be used as the best way to improve ourselves and our way of life.

A book I will probably find myself referring to from time to time, this is a little book packed with big inspiration and practically.

How do new age Wiccan residents combine their beliefs with the realities of modern urban living? This coverage includes spells, rituals, prayers and other methods for creating a harmonious spiritual environment within daily life, showing how Wicca can be celebrated through both group and individual rituals. An intriguing, practical coverage.

After reading some of the other reviews on her other books here I was compelled to do my own.
I've been a practicing witch for about 4 years and while no longer Wiccan as of about 3 years ago I still find this book and it's companion "Enchanted Life" very useful.
The two points I will state here is that yes, "some" of her books tend to be a bit on the "new age" side here and there. However, this is prominate in the "Wiccan" system. (I personally find that bit disapointing, but if it is helping to bring other folks around to thier own truth and to "living right" in what ever that may be for them, then it's fine by me).
Point number two: I own and have read at least 5 or 6 of Mrs. Telesco's books and at least the one's I have choosen have been most enjoyable and useful even though I no longer subscribe to "Wicca" specifically. (I practice more of a Eclectic/Egyptian way). The point is that I have also perused a number of her other books and in the literal sea of "wicca/witchy" books out there comprised mostly of garbage, rehash and and endless amount of 101 Mrs. Telesco shines through. I find in each of her books a constant and consistent mention of ethics and a very down to earth (no false promises)approach. She gives a lot of things she has or does practice herself and the thing I like is the fact that she consistantly spells out that they are her own ways and not to be taken literaly, but merely as guides. I don't see that in a lot of other authors that try to state opinions or ways of doing things as fact that must be followed.

Sure her writing style is enjoyable too, complete with humor and everything. She should be taken just for who she is and nothing more. Sure she also has a couple or 3 101 books out there...heck, who doesn't? However, that's not all she writes.

Bottom line that while I am very leary of recommending the majority of other authors out there in this field, Mrs. Telesco is one of the very very few that I can recommend without hesitation.

That's my 2 cents anyway.

There is something so Comfortable about the way this author shares her wisdom, and her humor. In particular, for someone who is interested in Wicca but not sure how this interest will be received by family members, Charmed has good suggestions.

I love the fact that this book included a chapter on people who have non-wiccan family or housemates and coping with that. It also tackles kids and the craft, money saving methods for tools and components, and a lot of little things overlooked in other books. To more experienced practitioners some materials might seem "obvious" but as is too often the case we forget that common sense isn't "common" (lol). Telesco inspires a lot of creative answers for her readers.

If you consider yourself a "New Age" Witch, then this book is good for you. If you don't, please walk away from this book. I was "very" suprised that Patricia Telesco was more of a "New Age" Witch because so many Witches/Wiccans like her books. I do like her other books like "The Wiccan Book of Ceremonies and Rituals", which I think is a great book. But I feel that this book is useless and that her other book "An Encanted Life" is much better, but still "New Agey", although she is different because she actually wants to save money.

I gave this book three stars because it has good ideas and is good for self-esteem. I hope this review helps you. Buy this book if you completelly love the author, but keep in mind that you already know this stuff.