Musing Mystical

✨ A Gathering Place for Magical Readers and Writers ✨

Tarot of the Unconscious, by Aliza Einhorn

Tarot of the Unconscious: Uncovering the Hidden Link Between Psychoanalysis and the Cards, by Aliza Einhorn
Weiser Books, 157863895X, 224 pages, June 2026

Tarot of the Unconscious: Uncovering the Hidden Link Between Psychoanalysis and the Cards is a very niche perspective on the tarot, examining how to read tarot through the lens for self-reflection, drawing on the work and legacy of Sigmund Freud. As a depth psychologist, I was intrigued by this approach, especially since most decks focus rather on Carl Jung’s work, leaning into archetypes, synchronicity, and the collective unconscious. I was curious to see the intersection between Freudian psychology and tarot wisdom.

To me, the Freudian approach to the unconscious is messy, intimate, and quite uncomfortable at times, if I’m being honest. But Einhorn delves into this unconscious realm with ease. Showing how the cards can reveal internal contradictions, compulsions, grief, projection, and other emotional truths, the tarot becomes a tool for examining and reflecting on your own unconscious mind.

“A far more personal approach exists here: Freud’s notion that your unconscious is a reflection of you.”1

This book is a merging of Einhorn’s two worlds as a tarot reader and trained psychoanalyst. Throughout the book, she often references experiences from her training or teaching. I was actually a little surprised by how interconnected the material was with Einhorn’s world: I could feel the New York buzz, envision her encounters, and hear her teaching her tarot students. This was a nice personal touch, making the book much more than simply route descriptions of the cards.

Tarot of the Unconscious begins with an introduction where Einhorn explains the background of the tarot, Freud, and how she discovers they converge. She writes, “I began to feel that Tarot and psychoanalysis were a natural pair, like garlic and olive oil, like New York City and the subway system, like Freud and the mysteries of the psyche.”2

I like this quote because it highlights Einhorn’s style of writing: grounded with emotional realism. This is refreshing in a realm that can quickly get heady yet esoteric. Her approach is perfect for initiating readers into this realm of psychological honesty without getting submerged in the depth or losing the plot; she keeps things engaging yet brings accountability to the work.

The book then turns to the cards themselves. Beginning with the Major Arcana, Einhorn examines each one through an overarching lens of psychoanalysis and Freud. For all of them, she draws in Freud’s work, biography, or personality to highlight the card’s message. With the Devil, Einhorn discusses Freud’s “legendary cigar-smoking habit”[/efn_note]page 74[/efn_note], while for the Moon card readers learn about Freud’s interest in omens. I’m not going to lie, it’s a LOT about Freud, so I do caution readers with this because if you’re not really into learning about him then this book could be a bit….. much!

Einhorn also provides meanings for each Major Arcana card both upright and reversed. Additionally, there’s a tarot spread for every card too.

This general format continues on in the next section focusing on Minor Arcana cards. Similar to the Major Arcana, there’s plenty of tarot studies from Einhorn’s personal experience. What’s different in the guidance for this section is that for each card Einhorn offers what she believes Freud would say about the card. So, readers are still getting plenty of insight into his work with this fanciful and creative twist.

The card’s meaning, upright and reversed, is also explained along with a spread to be used for a specific type of self-reflection.The Four of Cups spread is to shine light on what you dare not see, while the Six of Swords spread is for when “all you need is a way out of town.”3

Now here’s another interesting thing about Einhorn’s Tarot of the Unconscious method: the Aces and Court cards are read differently, corresponding to their element. I’m not going to give away her special method – you can read the book yourself for that! But I will say that it’s an interesting approach that also leaves plenty of room for your own free associations with the cards too.

The final section includes additional ways to work with the cards. Einhorn covers journaling in a tarot diary, creating your own spreads, and a telepathy game to aid readers in sinking into the stream of their unconscious.

While I did enjoy reading this book, by the end I was kind of over all the Freud facts. His work was interesting but he has never been my favorite psychologist, and Einhorn brings back every single tarot card (except Aces and Court Cards) to him which got to be a bit overzealous. This said, I did appreciate learning more about psychoanalysis and the history of the time it emerged. But I would have appreciated more of Einhorn’s insights from her own practice and teaching tarot; I guess I should go check out her other books for that!

Overall, Tarot of the Unconscious is an interesting approach to the cards. Einhorn’s passion for both tarot and Freud is very apparent on each page, and she certainly has a unique perspective when it comes to seeing parallels between the two. I’d recommend this book for those interested in exploring a psychoanalytic lens when reading tarot or those who are seeking ways to work with the tarot for self-reflection. There is good material on how symbolism and psyche come together through reading the cards; the deck serves as a mirror for unconscious material, filled with a symbolic language for emotional excavation.

The Book of Astrological Returns, by Theresa Reed

The Book of Astrological Returns: Your Complete Guide to Every Life Cycle from the Sun to Pluto, by Theresa Reed
Weiser Books, 157863900X, 240 pages, May 2026

Okay, astrology lovers! A new must-have read is here: The Book of Astrological Returns: Your Complete Guide to Every Life Cycle from the Sun to Pluto by Theresa Reed. I’ve truly never seen another book detail returns in this way, covering everything from Solar and Lunar returns to outer-planet cycles like Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. It is the comprehensive guide we all need, providing step-by-step guidance and informative interpretations for discerning the energy of our planetary returns.

Did I immediately print out multiple return charts to analyze? Absolutely. Has my astrology practice been enhanced tenfold? You betcha! Am I now obsessed with a new astrology niche topic? You know it! And I am so utterly grateful for Reed for sharing her wisdom allowing for this deep-dive without having to take a course or attend a workshop. Seriously, I’m astounded by the generosity of her spirit, as this material truly takes one’s astrological knowledge to the next level.

Reed begins with a personal introduction to this topic and advice on how to use this book. “Part One; Astrology Basics: What You’ll Need to Know” then moves into the essential information needed to understand a return chart. Reed covers the components of the birth chart, explains what returns are, and then details her method for reading return charts. She gives special attention to the ascendent and moon, detailing the significances for all of the twelve signs. And then she adds an extra layer of interpretation, which is looking at the transit to the natal chart at the moment of the return. The final section in this part “Putting it all Together” is aimed at integration.

I would consider myself an advanced astrologer, and I had no problem following along with the technique Reed describes. I found her clarification of the methodology to be extremely effective, and therefore I feel even a beginner to intermediate astrologer would be able to make use of this book. Since I don’t usually give too much insight into returns, aside from looking at a general solar return chart around my birthday and occasionally checking my lunar return chart for more insight into the themes of my month, I found delving into this topic to be very engaging. As in, it took me over a month to write the review because every time I picked up this book I started to pull up charts, apply Reed’s methods, reflect on what happened during certain returns/transits, look at my current ones, and just overall go on a deep-dive.

And while there’s some books on solar returns, lunar returns, and Saturn returns, this is the first book I’ve encountered that goes beyond the popular returns and offers insight into all of the planets PLUS the lunar nodes and Chrion, which just feels like an exquisite bonus. Reed truly expands the lens to include all return cycles across a lifetime, emphasizing that astrology is cyclical and evolving.

“Part Two: Every Return from the Sun to Pluto” goes chapter by chapter through all the planetary returns, from the quick lunar return to the long-spanning Pluto return that we will not ever see in our lifetime but is significant from a historical point of view and can lend insight into the energies of our current times (Reed does an excellent job delving into the recent Pluto return of the United States).

For each return type, Reed has the same general chapter format. She provides an introduction to the return, offers an interpretation of the planet (luminary, node, dwarf planet – you get it!) in each house, covers easy and challenging aspects to all the other planets, and offers next steps to further understand that specific return. She also examines charts (there’s plenty of real life examples through the book) and offers astrocises (exercises for the reader to do) along with cosmic tips. 

While it does require having a general astrological foundation (Reed doesn’t cover much about aspects, houses, how transits work, etc), the overall system she shares is pretty workable, especially with the question prompts she presents in the “next steps” section. For instance, when looking at a Mercury return chart, she leads readers through look at if Mercury is joined by other planets, examining the ascendent and where its ruler is in the chart, noting the moon sign and where the moon is, noticing the houses ruled by Gemini and Virgo, and so on. At this point the reader does need to utilize their own astrological knowledge to bring forth the interpretation, but the guidance makes it easy to move methodically and really get a full picture of the return chart.

My favorite thing about this book is Reed’s openness and writing style. She’s constantly sharing her own life experience and has a great sense of humor. Her storytelling brings the material to life, making the reader flow and feel like chatting with a friend as you learn. Her approachable, down to earth way of relating makes her a stellar author (I would absolutely check out her other works too, such as The Cards You’re Dealt and Twist Your Fate). Plus, she picks interesting things to talk about! With carte blanche creative prowess, the charts she picks out as examples are engaging. She examines the return chart of Toni Morrison, Al Capone, Elizabeth Taylor, and more. 

As for Reed’s approach to astrology, it is more modern, which is fine by me! She doesn’t shy away from future forecasting, as we are indeed looking at the returns to see what’s ahead, but there is no Hellenistic predictive rigor (thank goodness). Instead, she takes a more psychological approach, using empowering language to frame the potential of transits and returns realistically. No, she doesn’t shy away from potential disasters (you should read about her recent Mars return!), but she also doesn’t heed fated calamity. The explanations are practical, leaving room for plenty of personal potential. I like when she writes:

“One of the things you’ll often hear me say is that astrology is theory. (In fact, I said that earlier in this book!). You can gaze at the stars all day long and predict how things might unfold, but sometimes, the outcome is different than expected. Human interpretation is funny that way.”4

I really resonate with this perspective. Who truly knows? The best we can do is examine the charts and be open to what emerges!

Overall, The Book of Astrological Returns fills a gap in astrology literature by bringing all the planetary return cycles into a cohesive framework that can easily be applied for readings. Rather than going to multiple books to gain insight on returns, Reed has created a one-stop-shop with a generous amount of astrological wisdom. The content is a reminder that astrology is not static; the planets are always moving and looking at the return charts is a great way to expand on timing techniques, understand our life cycles, and bring more awareness to the interplay between our current astrology and life experience.

I HIGHLY recommend this one for all levels of astrologers, especially those with intermediate skills and beyond, for the creative inspiration it will provide in regard to the many returns you will experience in life. This is one of those astrology books that is going to be referred back to time and time again.

Paranormal Perspectives: PARA∙NORMALITY, by Kieran Stanislaw Mace

Paranormal Perspectives: PARA∙NORMALITY: Normalising the Paranormal, by Kieran Stanislaw Mace
6th Books, 1917704119, 128 pages, March 2026

It’s hard enough to figure out how to “live” accordingly to secure our basic human needs, but try throwing in paranormal encounters too that leave you questioning the nature of reality and just what the heck is going on! This is the predicament Kieran Stanislaw Mace shares Paranormal Perspectives: PARA∙NORMALITY: Normalising the Paranormal. Written with honesty and emotional sincerity, Mace shares his life journey and all paranormal moments that finally lead him to embrace the veiled reality existing concurrent to our own.

This book sits somewhere between a spiritual autobiography, paranormal testimony, and exploration of consciousness. Mace writes candidly about his life, not only the pivotable moments but the mundane day to day that blend together his on-going paranormal experiences with ordinary life, showing they are not two different paths, but a unified life journey. From his childhood trauma, including a near-death experience after a hit-and-run accident to the bullying, grief, and years of suppressing experiences that made him feel alienated, he brings forth a dialogue about the paranormal with this book.

Just how do you live with such extraordinary experiences happening when you are not sure how to define the events or who to turn to for advice? Unsurprisingly, you struggle quite a bit! And this is what makes this memoir quite captivating. This is NOT a book about a famed professional who “just knew” from the get-go how to converse with the entities on the other side of the veil; this is the story of a person thrown into the turbulent flow of life, a near-death-experience in childhood, earning an education, holding down a job to pay bills, finding love, having children, and still navigating the paranormal circumstances that have plagued him since childhood.

Despite Mace experiencing visions, synchronicities, hauntings, out-of-body experience, intuitive knowings, and encounters with spiritual entities, he had to fit into accepted reality. With this book, he works to break down the stigma of the paranormal and showcase how these experiences could truly happen to anyone, even an ordinary guy like himself. Mace doesn’t set out to prove anything, he just is sharing his own perspective and opening up a door for readers to reconsider the boundaries of reality.

Here’s an excerpt that I think characterizes Mace’s internal dialogue, intention for the book, and experience quite well:

“My observation supports the idea that negative energy affects the activity around us, just like during my grumpy teenage years, the sadness of losing my cat, or the anger of a miseducated manager. Maybe if I could switch my energies to emit positivity, perhaps that could affect the world in a different way. After all, every particle in the universe vibrates, bound by an energy that unifies to hold this universe in place. If we can change the frequency we emit, what happens? ‘Lie down, Kieran, you are not meant to question these things.’ That is what my programming said. When people begin to question the world that is laid out for them, they are often labelled as weird and people choose to move to sit at a different lunch table. Why is it so scary that people are forced to look down?”5

By presenting all his shortcomings and obstacles along the way, Mace’s intimate, earnest, emotional vulnerability becomes fodder for spiritual exploration of others. He is consistently reflective, offering possibilities rather than hard facts, inviting dialogue rather than argument. And for this, Mace brings to light an important aspect of paranormal experience: many people privately experience phenomena they fear discussing due to ridicule or social pressure. In having the courage to say, “I went through this”, “At times my mental health was not good.”, “I was lost and confused.”, others gain the ability to be more forthcoming about their own journey, a reminder that they are not alone.

Overall, for readers interested in psychic phenomena, hauntings, alter states, spiritual entities, and more, Paranormal Perspectives: PARA∙NORMALITY will be resonant. Mace’s memoir-driven spiritual writing and paranormal narratives rooted in personal transformation is an interesting read. Mace being so forthcoming about his experience makes for a great addition to the Paranormal Perspectives series to further provide food for thought to readers with an interest in this subject.

Ancient Spells and Incantations, by Enid Baxter Ryce

Ancient Spells and Incantations: Echoes of Magic Through the Ages and Across Cultures, by Enid Baxter Ryce
Weiser Books, 1578639026, 208 pages, April 2026

A few months ago, I was reading BonaDea’s Book of Everyday Enchantments by Patricia deSandro about creating your own enchantments. DeSandro explained how this produces an energy that was unique to the situation for which we were doing the spell. In contrast, she also talked about how when we use spells written by others, especially those used by many in a ritual fashion, we tap into the lineage, ancestry, and magical potency of those who also have worked the spell. This is something that stuck in my mind, a reminder that there’s magical depth and breadth to be discovered by seeking out ancient spells, chants, and hymns.

Did I personally have the time to do this though? Absolutely not! And it is for this reason that I was quite excited to read Ancient Spells and Incantations: Echoes of Magic Through the Ages and Across Cultures by Enid Baxter Ryce. This curated archive of magical memory draws from grimoires, church records, letters, and ancient fragments across cultures to create a nifty collection of magical texts to have on hand. The way it reads is like a poetic collection of historical magic, allowing readers to flip through and discover enchantments that otherwise likely would have been lost to time.

“As we marvel at these ancient magical words, we think of our ancestors. Thanks to them, scraps of papyrus, shards of pottery, secret books, and whispered recipes will still show themselves to those who seek them.”6

To write this book, Ryce utilized a variety of sources. She dove into libraries, archives, along with museum collections and databases. There’s a whole list of the magical texts shared in the book for those who are seeking to do their own research. Ryce explains how she consulted scholarly and popular books about ancient magic and also read about the context the magical spells were written, which are shared in the extensive bibliography. Some of the works she translated herself, but for languages she wasn’t familiar with, she used digital resources to translate that were then checked against scholarly translations.

I found her overall process interesting, about which she writes, “To create these contemporary interpretations, I stayed close to the intended meanings of the ancient incantations. After translating, I revised the language and rhythms, aiming for clarity, simplicity, and poetic impact.”7

There are five chapters, each focusing on a magical theme: manifesting and prophecy, love and lust, protection, healing, and curses, bindings, and vengeance. Additionally, Ryce includes an introduction about the written history of magic, which aptly sets the stage for what’s to come.

Aside from the general theme, there’s no real organization to the order of the spells, but there is a nice flow. Most of the spells are applicable to modern life, while others are just fun to read, such as the Mayan “Cure for Red Spider Monkey Gums (Pyorrhea)”. There’s incantations for protection from witches, as well as a spell to conjure the devils to bring love to you. There’s no telling what the next page will bring once you flip it!

This said, Ancient Spells and Incantations is definitely better suited for those with an eclectic practice that feel comfortable working with a wide range of deities across time and space. In just a few pages, the entries move from Thebes in the 12th century to China in 1200 BCE to Egypt 2nd Century BCE. There’s texts from the Scottish Highlands to traditional Yourba. In another few pages, a Babylonian text, Buddhist text, Lakota proverb, and Akkadian Magic Literature all come together to create quite an interesting mix.

All that Ryce shares is the text itself, so there’s no context about how these verses would be used in spellwork based on the lineage’s time and place. So for each chapter, it’s almost like reading a bunch of poems (in many ways that’s what spells and incantations are, right?!) related to a theme.

In regard to actually using the text, readers would have to be okay with creating their own rituals. For this purpose, Ryce includes a chapter towards the end called “Beginning a Magical Practice” where she covers working with words and objects, traditional spellcasting objects and color meanings, powerful places, and names and numbers.

Her guidance, along with my own background, would definitely be enough to piece together a ritual, but for those who prefer to create deep bonds with the lineages they work with before delving into ritual or spellwork, this book might better serve an anthropological curiosity. Similarly, for those who prefer spell craft with step-by-step instructions, this book might feel a bit too literary. Given Ryce’s multidisciplinary background in art, film, poetry, there’s no doubt her artistic sensibility has shaped the book to be a potent creative force in its own right. It can easily be enjoyed without having to perform any of the magic within.

Also worth noting, in an age where people can be quick to condone cultural appropriation, this book does not claim to be of any lineage. Ryce is a scholar, a seeker, and archivist. It’s clear she appreciates the living thread of magic woven through human history within these texts. While most of the book is simply the spells or incarnations, when Ryce does share information, her tone is always reverent, informative, and devoted to preserving the sanctity of the text. This book is done in service of magical history, allowing for these texts to be seen and valued in our modern world.

Overall, Ryce’s collection of incantations and spells inspire contemplation, bring a special energetic atmosphere to spell work, and invite intuitive connection with the past. Drawing from many traditions, Ancient Spells and Incantations is a offers snippets of occult history still relevant and useful for spellcrafting today. I quite enjoy the variety of content and I am impressed by Ryce’s artistic process in the creation of this book.

Whether you want to imbue sacred objects with these spells or chant them outloud for your magical workings, the content gives a potent, ancient foundation to start from. I’m so glad Ryce has brought these spells and incantations to print, translating them for the modern reader and lifting them out of the dusty archives of the past to fill the spells with fresh energy. A very cool and unique read!

Déjà Rêvé and Love at Second Sight, by Daniel Bourke

Déjà Rêvé and Love at Second Sight: The Experience of Meeting in Dreams before Meeting in Life, by Daniel Bourke
Destiny Books, 979-8888502716, 320 pages, January 2026

For those who are dream lovers, Déjà Rêvé and Love at Second Sight by Daniel Bourke is a fascinating compendium of unique dream experiences. This book explores the phenomenon of déjà rêvé (“already dreamed”), the experience of encountering something in waking life that you feel you’ve specifically dreamed before, not just vaguely recognized. The vast amount of documentation surrounding this experience makes it a worthwhile topic of exploration, especially for those intrigued by the idea of precognition.

“Is it possible to dream or otherwise mysteriously envision a future spouse, acquaintance, helper, healer, or even a shaman or saint before meeting them in life? To literally see the face, hear the voice, or sense the presence of another whom you are yet to meet and are nevertheless destined to do so? If our only witnesses were the voluminous records of legend, lyric, and lore on all corners of the globe then answer would be a resounding yes.”8

Jam-packed with hundreds of instances of déjà rêvé, Bourke has organized the chapters of this book by general themes. One of the first types of déjà rêvé covered focuses on healers, saints, sufis, and sheiks. The general focus of these stories is when people had spiritually significant dreams and then soon met the person in the dreams for healing or spiritual growth. Another chapter focuses on how dream visions aid people in making real life decisions. For instance, according to The Schism in England, translated by Pedro Calderon de la Barca, Henry VIII had a dream of Anne Boleyn before he ever met her.

Speaking of fated romances, there’s plenty of stories of dreaming of lovers before meeting them in real life. One of my favorite stories was from the biography of a 107-year-old man from Arkansas who dreamed about heading to a terminal and seeing a beautiful woman standing there who said to him, “You come to carry me home, James? I’m your wife.”9 and then he met the same woman in real life at a New Year’s Eve party later on.

Other chapters do focus on folklore surrounding divination and magic in regard to this dream phenomena, as well as the religious impact déjà rêvé had on some people after their experience. Bourke shares tidbits such as how among the Ilocano (a Filipino ethnolinguistic group), “a man sleeps with a dipper of water near his bed in order to see the reflection of his future spouse, needing to wake at exactly twelve o’clock.”10

Then there’s also a story about a man whose youth pastor encouraged him to pray to God for the person he would marry in the future. He then received a vision of the cross pendant his future wife would be wearing. Lo and behold, he met her when he went to visit a new church and the secretary was wearing the pendant. Wouldn’t you know it, the cross pendant had been a gift from her grandmother, who had told her it had special meaning related to her future husband, who would be drawn to it. Now, it might be easy to brush off these tales as romantic, exaggerated love stories that signify a relationship has a divine blessing, but the sheer number of tales Bourke shares really does expand the reader’s perception of just how common déjà rêvé has been throughout time.

One of my favorite chapters in the book is “Picture Perfect”, which had a sections like “Media and Murder in Motion” and “Death, Ghosts, and Near Death”. Can’t help it—I love thrillers! But beyond the typical dreaming of a partner or spiritual aid, these stories had practical applications, such as solving a crime or reconnecting loved ones with someone who had departed.

What makes the book stand out is its scope: it gathers hundreds of accounts from folklore, historical texts, memoirs, and modern reports, aiming to create one of the first comprehensive collections of this phenomenon. While modern society might have an unhealthy dose of skepticism, many cultures historically have accepted dreams as predictive or spiritual messages. Bourke pulls from an unusually wide range of sources (saints, shamans, historical anecdotes, and contemporary experiences) showing that dream-foretelling appears across cultures and eras. This gives the book a mythic, almost archetypal feeling, as though you’re reading a global folklore archive rather than a single-author thesis.

This said, I found reading it to be overwhelming at times. It took me a few months to make my way though, and it was mostly because I kept getting mentally overloaded. While I was drawn to Déjà Rêvé and Love at Second Sight because I wanted to be immersed in the liminal space of dreams and discover something about their ethereal nature, the content is more along the lines of reporting on this dream experience rather than providing discussion on its significance or the meaning of reality understood through the exploration of this paranormal phenomena.

I would often get a bit of whiplash with how it jumped from one story to the next, quickly spanning time periods and cultures. There’s cohesion, but it’s definitely a book that keeps you in your mind, bombarded with recorded accounts rather than tapping into the spiritual dimension. I actually found this amusing, as dream books usually make me feel a bit spacey or ungrounded, while this one made it feel too stuck in reality with names, dates, and recorded experiences spanning centuries and the whole world.

Plus, the unfamiliarity with many of the cultures or historical time periods had me grappling just to wrap my head around the context of the story, ultimately preventing me from fully engaging with the content. I am all for cross-cultural examination, but one paragraph being about a Burmese writer in the early 1990s quickly followed by another featuring a tale of an Welsh American explorer in central Africa in the 1800s, which within the same paragraph talks about another American explorer living with the Ojibwa Indians of the Great Lakes between 1763 and 1764, you can see how my head could get spinning pretty quickly. Like where am I located in time and space?! I guess in some ways, I did get that untethered dream experience, but not how I was hoping!

Overall, for readers interested in dreamwork, synchronicity, psychic or intuitive phenomena, this comprehensive text will feel quite validating, highlighting just how common this phenomena of déjà rêvé is worldwide. I would definitely recommend Déjà Rêvé and Love at Second Sight for those who enjoy gathering stories, as Bourke collects and presents rather than rigorously interrogates. The documentation of the mystical experience of already dreamed gives backing to further discussion about the nature of reality, purpose of dreams, and the way people are connected. This book is a great launching pad for further study of a very intriguing topic!

New Moon Life Design, by Yesbelt Fernandez

New Moon Life Design: Manifest the Life You Want Using Lunar Cycles, Tarot, and Astrology, by Yesbelt Fernandez
Weiser Books, 1578638747, 256 pages, April 2026

Syncing with lunar cycles, astrology, AND tarot? Talk about a powerhouse of manifestation. New Moon Life Design: Manifest the Life You Want Using Lunar Cycles, Tarot, and Astrology, by Yesbelt Fernandez covers the trifecta for those seeking to align with ever-changing energies of the universe to set intentions and see them through to fulfillment.

“This system weaves lunar cycles, tarot, and astrology into a rhythm you can actually live by. A rhythm that helps you reflect, choose, act, and grow–with clarity and meaning.”11

Following a heartfelt introduction in which Fernandez shares her background and encourages readers to have the confidence and courage to live the life they desire, the book begins with “Part One: The Big Three: Lunar Cycles, Astrology, and Tarot”. Each modality has its own chapter in which Fernandez gives an overview of the basics. While it’s a condensed version of each modality, as they can take years to study and learn on their own, Fernandez distills the most important aspects and shares enough for readers to understand the system being presented in subsequent chapters. She covers topics such as key phases of the moon and seasons; planets, zodiac signs, and houses; and the different types of cards in the tarot (Major Arcana, Minor Arcana, Court Cards, Aces).

It is within the first part of the book she also introduces us to a core concept in this tri-system: moonths. Fernandez explains these are “twenty-nine-and-a-half-day lunar cycles that offer us a cosmic way to measure time.”12 The main premise of the book is how to attune to the energy of each moonth by considering astrologically the zodiac sign, modality, element, house ruler, area of life in one’s chart, and energy of the placement, along with the corresponding tarot card.

While it seems like a lot to integrate, the way Fernandez breaks it all down in “Part Two: Synchronicity: Tools for the Spiritual Journey” grounds the wisdom of these modalities into a format that makes it streamlined to learn and apply to one’s life. She even discusses how she specifically designed this method with SMART goals in mind–specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

Within four chapters based on the seasons, Fernandez guides readers through all the moonths. She associated the seasons with the four moon phases too–winter is akin to a new moon, spring the waxing moon, summer a full moon, and autumn the waning moon–once again embedding layers within layers of this spiral pathway.

At the start of each seasonal chapter, Fernandez provides an overview of this time of the year , noting the general energy, meaning of the solstice or equinox that heralds its arrival, and the corresponding tarot cards. Next, the three zodiac signs are covered that comprise the season. Each zodiac profile is very detailed, featuring a message from the sign,information about the planetary ruler, overall themes of the moon, keywords, moon progression through the cycle, meaning of the moon in each house, and tarot profiles for the sign, also featuring directives for each phase of the moon.

Throughout, there were a few times I felt the text could have used a bit more information. For instance, the system is designed based on 12 moonths, but sometimes a new moon or full moon can happen in the same sign twice in a year. While there’s only one new moon in each zodiac sign in 2026, in 2027 there’s two new moons in the sign of Virgo happening on August 2nd and August 31st. Since there wasn’t much guidance on how to accurately track the moon, readers might get confused with the placement of the moon for each moonth.

Similarly, for each zodiac sign, Fernandez describes the transits of the moon cycle with words such as “Aries Waxing Moon” and “Aries Full Moon” and this was very confusing for me as an astrologer. This wording is so off-base from an astrological point of view because the full moon is most of the time in the opposite sign as the new moon, while the waxing and waning moon also occur when the moon is in a different sign. For instance following an Aries new moon, the waxing moon would be in Cancer, full moon in Libra, and waning moon in Capricorn. However, Fernandez moves through the moon phase by describing it as “Aries Waxing Moon”, “Aries Full Moon”, and “Aries Waning Moon”, which I ultimately presumed meant the phases of the moon that occur in that particular moonth but don’t actually correspond to the astrology.

It’s for this reason that I think the book is best suited for those whose tarot and astrology knowledge is between a beginner and intermediate level. When I first learned to manifest with the moon, I only worked with the new moon sign and the phases, so there’s a lot to be gained from Fernandez’s methodology. But those who already have an astrological practice might be confused by the presentation of the information, as it’s definitely geared towards those who are new to the modality.

The final section “Part Three: The Spiritual Practice: Weaving Intentions into Life’s Cycles” is where the real exploration of manifestation occurs. Focusing on the spiral path, Fernandez discusses the eight dimensions of wellness, encouraging readers to check in and see how fulfilled they feel in each area. Then she once again moves through the phases of the moon, teaching which aligned actions to take throughout the course of each moonth, utilizing tools such as tracking the zodiac energy, setting meaningful intentions, tarot spreads, and journaling. The final part focuses on making this a group process with ideas for structuring gatherings to share in this work with others.

Overall, New Moon Life Design is a structured spiritual practice that honors the ebbs and flows of the moon cycles and seasons. Blending lunar cycles, astrology, and tarot into a cyclical system for manifestation and self-reflection, Fenandez centers on the idea that growth is not linear but spiral in nature. Instead of treating astrology, tarot, and lunar timing as separate systems, Fernandez shows how they overlap and reinforce each other, creating a cohesive framework. What’s best about it, throughout, is that it’s less about quick manifestation and more about building a relationship with time, cycles, and self-awareness, creating a meaningful practice that can truly reoriented your life.

The Beginner’s Guide to Divination, by Kirsten Riddle

The Beginner’s Guide to Divination: How to reveal the future, from crystal balls and palm reading to tarot, runes, tea leaves, and more, by Kirsten Riddle
CICO Books, 1800655908, 144 pages, February 2026

Ever feel like you have intuitive abilities or psychic sensitivity but aren’t sure how to start developing these traits? The Beginner’s Guide to Divination by Kirsten Riddle is perfect for this, providing a visually appealing, novice-friendly survey of divination systems. Think of this book as a special roadmap into the variety of ways you can hone your divination skills, intended to spark curiosity and build confidence on your magical path.

Riddle begins the book with the basics of energy work. She teaches readers how to build their psychic workspace, read for themselves and others, and tune into energy. The main divination covered in this chapter is the pendulum which can be used for yes or no answers as well as clearing energetic space.

The next chapter covers scrying, or casting your gaze into something to see what emerges while in a meditative state. Riddle covers scrying all types of objects: clouds, nature, crystal balls, mirror, smoke, and even ink! All throughout she provides tips to enhance your technique, answers common questions, and provides clear step-by-step instructions for each process.

The following chapter delves into cleromancy, which is when items are cast for divination. Riddle details the most popular items used to cast a divinatory read: runes, sticks, charms, and dice. For each rune, there is a visual of the symbol and a short description of the meaning. Riddle even shares instructions for making your own runes! I especially found the stick throwing section interesting, as this was one I hadn’t heard of before. As with the runes, Riddle shares how to make your own sticks and shares a graphic about different tree energies.

After this, Riddle moves onto body reading, writing “Each individual is unique, so it makes sense that their physical makeup could reveal facts about their personality, traits, and gifts, and also their approach to life.”13 Despite my years of magical study, this is an area of divination I know almost nothing about, so I was quite excited to dive in. The types of readings covered—all with amazing graphics!—include palmistry (the lines and mounts of the hand), solestry (foot shape and size, including what the toes can reveal), and aura reading. I’m going to be putting my new skills to use this summer once everyone’s feet come out in their sandals! Lol.

The next chapter focuses on cartomancy, divination with cards. While playing cards can be used, Riddle focuses specifically on tarot and oracle cards in this section. She offers a quick meaning for every single tarot card as well as guidance on how to do a three-card spread and manifest with tarot cards too. As for oracle cards, she offers step-by-step instructions for reading them and how to create your own oracle deck.

The final chapter covers tasseomancy, or divination with coffee and tea leaves. Riddle once again offers instructions to perform this type of divination, as well as offering how to do it with herbs rather than coffee or tea, if it’s not your thing. This was definitely something I’d never heard of being done before, so I appreciated this useful alternative approach. There’s a list of possible symbols one might see in their reading and the meaning of each.

Throughout the book, Riddle shares important techniques for doing this type of work, including grounding, breathing, and protection rituals. She also offers the ancient history of each divination technique, which is nice because it gives perspective about how long these forms of fortune-telling have existed. While each section is short, there’s a broad spectrum covered, which allows readers to dip their toes in and see what method calls out to them for further study.

Riddle’s writing style is gentle and encouraging, presenting information clearly and directly. And her text is also greatly aided visually by the illustrations in this book. The variety of colorful text boxes, designs, and figure drawings help to absorb the material presented. The aesthetic keeps the reading light, even though it’s quite descriptive content.

Overall, I’d recommend The Beginner’s Guide to Divination for beginners unsure where to start, those going through an intuitive awakening that want to learn more about different divination modalities, and people interested in casual spiritual learning. This entry-level spiritual guidebook could be likened to a “sampler platter” of divination arts, providing readers enough to get a taste of multiple methodologies for a varied and engaging practice.

Ensouling the Effigy, by Matthew Venus

Ensouling the Effigy: The Witch’s Arte of Enspirited Objects,  by Matthew Venus
Crossed Crow Books,  978-1964537030, 420 pages, October 2025

“There is a crimson thread sewn through the diverse and rich spiritual and magical traditions humanity has crafted throughout our history, A thread drawn through conjuring lips and hallowed by the breath of life that stitches together the embodied realm and the Otherworld and binds both spirit and body by acts of devotion, desire and demand. This vivifying thread is, of course, the arte of crafting and working with enspirited objects, or what many refer to as spirit vessels.”1

Ensouling the Effigy: The Witch’s Arte of Enspirited Objects by Matthew Venus is a book that has within it a breath of life that inspires and encourages the practitioner to push a little further than what they may have considered as a means of deepening their connection to the work of the witch. Working with magical objects and empowering them is not a foreign concept to those engaged in the sacred arts, but maximizing the use and specifics of such tools is one often overlooked at worst and given a cursory glance at best. Venus brings this practice to the forefront as not only a viable methodology but also as the natural support towards successful workings.

Ensouling the Effigy is a 420-page tome that is impressive in that fact alone. Not many newer works are this lengthy and often just skim the surface of what is possible within their content. This is definitely not the case in  this writing, while also not adding anything extraneous or unintentional in its material. The title is organized into twelve chapters, contained within three parts. “Part Four: A Book of Secrets” provides the reader with a grimoire of sorts containing recipes, sigils and selected ritual workings.  And, given the size of this title, there is thankfully a glossary, bibliography, and index for quick search.

Scattered throughout are many praxis (practical application) opportunities and the overall style of the book is one of having opened the pages to a book written long ago and imbued with the formal structure of academia and concise focus. Many of the chapters conclude with a recommended reading list which provides the opportunity for further study and research for those so inclined. I particularly appreciated a specific inclusion within the introduction about general advice and precautions:

“As with most things worth doing, Witchcraft is not free from risk. Whenever engaging in magical work, particularly when working with spirits, there exists a possibility for delusion, obsession, or any number of other adverse situations to arise. Though I have included many warnings and instructions throughout this work regarding establishing protections and exercising discernment, the reader is encouraged, as much as possible, to approach this work from a place of preexisting stability in their life situations, and mental health. If you find that engaging in this work, or magical work in  general, begins to cause imbalance in your life, you should seek the aid and counsel of spiritual elders, trusted and objective peers, and medical professionals, as needed.”2

“Part One: On An Inspirited World” contains five chapters that in and of themselves could be the content of a singular title on the nuances, realms, and workings of the witch and the spirits that are called to aid in their workings. The material contained provides the reader with a clear picture and understanding of who and what “spirits” are, the identification and workings of a “witch”, ethics of magical work, tools of creation of sacred space, communication with spirits and more. 

Having laid the foundations of what the work of engaging spirits, “Part Two: On Inspirited Objects” dives right into the use of objects as ensouled allies for magic. Concise information is given about the various types and uses of ensouled objects such as spirit vessels, effigies, poppets etc. The history of such items is of particular interest in bringing their use from a place of archaic relegation into the modern world and practice of witchcraft. 

“Part Three: Ensouling the Effigy” gets to the meat and bones (no pun intended) of bringing life to the tools of working and the use of breath:

“One of the threads woven through the binding of this book is the idea that breath is the primary vehicle for spirit.  As we have seen, the spiritus, the breath , is found both at the literal and mythological birth of humanity.  It is the whisper that inspires us to create new forms. It is the vox magica that speaks desire into form and chants, charms, and conjures the spirits.  Air, breath, and voice are inseparable from our understanding of spirits and spirit work. And, it is through the breath that we will ensoul the effigy.”14

The chapters contained therein, provide specific instructions, practices and considerations for the reader, if they choose to actualize this work and incorporate into their magical system. A variety of breath work practices are offered in “Chapter Ten: Spiritus Vitae: On the Arte and Act of Enspiriting Objects”. These praxes and the author shares his methodical and step-by-step approach in the act of ensouling. 

And, in living no stone unturned and accountable, the concluding portion of the final chapter of “Part Two”, discusses release of bonds, exorcism, and banishment of those spirits and tools you no longer wish to engage with. Three praxis rituals are provided in detail to provide clean and effective disengagement. 

“Part Four: A Book of Secrets” offers a robust conclusion to the works contained within Ensouling the Effigy. Included within is a section of recipes and correlating sigils for botanical allies. Incense recipes include protection, cleansing, exorcism, evocation, and others. Each is concise including both botanical and commonly used names of the botanicals, as well as instructions for creating and best practices for use. 

The second offering of “Part Four: A Book of Secrets” is a selection of workings. Venus writes:

“The following operations bring together many of the approaches explored throughout this book’s work.  They are presented so the reader might perform them as written, or make judicious alterations as best suits their own craft.  It is my hope in sharing them here that they may give a good illustration of the manner in which such workings as are implied throughout the course of this book may be crafted and formatted to suit your own work.”15

The book concludes with six appendices that provide the reader with additional supports and tools of working that include planetary correspondences and magic squares (App. 1); the use of color (App. 2); the basics of crafting consecrated water (App. 3);  a ritual for creating sacred space (App. 4); consecration of your blade of Arte as a working tool dedicated to spirit workings (APP. 5); and an Example of a Formal Written Pact, a necessity for clear and clean spirit engagement (App. 6). The  Glossary and Index provide easier navigation through topics and nomenclature not traditionally used in your lighter offerings of text  on this subject. 

Would I Recommend?

Ensouling the Effigy by Matthew Venus is a title that has been carefully crafted and well researched in a way that is appealing both to seasoned practitioners and those new to the craft of the witch. This work is truly one that will take its place among the classic compendiums of magical work that are the foundation for informed and deep magic. 

It is not by any means a “light” read, nor should it be given the subject matter, and will require time, effort and methodical building of your specific work in this art, but the results and general expansion of those who choose to approach this subject in this way, will carry far and deeply into all of your practice. In the words of Venus:

“It is my hope that the spirit of this book has perhaps “breathed into” you in some small or significant way and that my efforts here will have enriched both your arte and arte going forward. If this tome has served in extending a witching hand across to the Otherworld and opened some eyes a bit wider around our ideas concerning spirits, personhood, and bodies, I will be quite pleased. If it has inspired you to move more consciously and actively enspirit, and in turn be enspirited by the world around you, and to perhaps take up this arte more actively, then it will have done its work,  and I will be grateful to have aided in its creation.”16

About the Author: Matthew Venus

Matthew Venus is an artist, folk magician, and witch in Salem, Massachusetts. His craft centers on animism and ancestral, land-based traditions. His practice is enriched as Tata Ndenge in a lineage of Kimbanda Angola and his experiences as an Aborisha in the Lucumí Orisha tradition. For over two decades, Matthew has shared his teachings worldwide through courses on witchcraft and folk magical traditions.
 
Matthew owns the apothecary of Spiritus Arcanum, a shop that specializes in handcrafted incense, oils, and talismanic art. He cofounded the Salem Witchcraft and Folklore Festival, which hosts events around magical education, community building, and activism.

Divine Feminine Gnosis, by Lee Irwin

Divine Feminine Gnosis: The Lesser and Greater Mysteries of Sophia, by Lee Irwin
Inner Traditions, 979-8888502532, 304 pages, December 2025

Within Lee Irwin’s Divine Feminine Gnosis: The Lesser and Greater Mysteries of Sophia is a challenge many books discussing esoteric topics face: the author must diligently walk the fine line between coherently communicating their ideas, experiences, and sentiments within the limits of language, with one hand, and gesturing toward the veiled dance of the deeper Mystery with the other. And the attempt to thread this needle in order to present the reader with a tapestry of divine feminine–i.e. Sophianic–wisdom is an even greater challenge due to the diversity of expression that such wisdom can take, as Irwin himself acknowledges.

The book is divided into two main sections: the Lesser and Greater Mysteries, which correspond to Praxis (practice, lived-experience, development of feminine values) and Sophiana (the hidden esoteric realities that ground and unify the expressions of feminine gnosis in one’s lived experience). While the latter half is certainly more abstract and metaphysical, it covers familiar Gnostic territory: Divine Union, the World Soul, Aeons, Rebirth, and how they connect to the lived-expressions of Sophia through the Body, Soul, and Mind as discussed in the first half.

At the outset, Irwin himself suggests that attempting to read the book in a typically “masculine” way: e.g. looking for precise, logical argumentation meant to arrive at a determinate conclusion, is not fitting for the content of the feminine gnosis. Throughout the text, Irwin takes great care to distinguish how the potentially limitless expression of Sophia–the divine source of this embodied, intuitive, and creative feminine type of knowing–differs from the masculine patterns that have dominated the religious and social institutions of our inherited past.

In a sense, because Sophianic knowing explicitly does not seek a final, closed formulation of beliefs, theory, or way of being-in-the-world, it seems difficult to provide any concrete examples of how divine feminine wisdom manifests in the world. Instead, Irwin relies upon the masculine/feminine contrast–using the distinction of what feminine gnosis is not like–along with repeated cycles of key descriptors to illuminate the topic.

Although Irwin’s presentation of the Lesser Mysteries is meant to reveal how feminine gnosis shows up in the world of our experience, this is especially where illustrating particular instances of feminine wisdom and/or practices that may open one to the grace of Sophia would be helpful for the reader. In lieu of this, Irwin presents iterations of generalized descriptions and “guiding principles” that often lack means toward practical application.

For example, Irwin writes, “The grounded praxis is simply to be loving and compassionate, to express care and concern that is heart-centered, in the most direct and genuine sense,”17 and “In post-traditional spirituality, what matters most is direct personal insights and how those insights contribute to a better, more mature world.”18 As a reader, I was left wondering: How do I become simply loving and compassionate? What is insight? How do we recognize and/or cultivate this capacity?

Irwin gestures at some practices which may help foster insight, such as meditation, soul-based education, creative projects, and dreamwork–indeed, Irwin’s only concrete example of a praxis is a simple, three-step process for dream analysis. Although the accumulation and refining of insight is one of the most frequent ways Irwin describes the ingress of Sophianic wisdom to lived-experience, this term does not even warrant a mention in the Index. Nor is insight differentiated from intuition, another key capacity for receiving Sophia’s gifts.

In the end, feminine gnosis comes down to some special way of knowing. Such knowledge is not based in abstract, rationalistic doctrines or privileged states of consciousness bequeathed by an (often patriarchal) authority or tradition. It is a “secret knowledge” (a common Gnostic trope) in the sense that it cannot be codified into language, emerging uniquely for each individual, and aimed toward the formulation and realization of certain qualities within both the individual, society, and Cosmos. E.g. inclusive equality of all beings and ways of life (people, animals, plants, minerals, angels, the deceased, etc.), mediated by mature loving relationships and guiding principles that foster universal well-being and the creative actualization of possibility awaiting exploration beyond the horizon of previous experience.

Despite the reservations I felt about Irwin’s style/structure, Divine Feminine Gnosis began to resonate on a deeper level over time, marinating with more exposure to the potentially inexhaustible ways Sophia weaves within the Mystery of Being. I urge readers who may be highly-analytic (myself included) to consider Irwin’s early guidance in how to read his book in the Preface and Opening (xi – 12). Personally, I found that pulling back and softening my focus on the text (even taking a break!) made reading flow far better, and without the feeling I was missing/losing content. 

I also found some of Irwin’s characterizations of “masculine” religions, wisdom traditions, etc. to be more abrasive, dichotomizing, and dismissive than necessary (not the most inclusive, holistic, respectful attitude, in my opinion). However, this emphasized that the revitalization of feminine Wisdom in our world cannot happen without disrupting the excesses of masculine patterns of thinking-being that grip us at individual and collective scales. For readers who may be more comfortable in these more masculine patterns (scientific, rationalistic, etc.), I found Irwin’s perspective resonated with contemporary cognitive science: e.g. McGilchrist’s argument that our brain’s left hemisphere (analytic, control-oriented) is playing the role of “master” rather than playing the emissary of the (holistic, relational) right hemisphere.

Irwin’s work was inspiring as it was illuminating, inviting a courageous openness to adopt a new perspective. Without this openness, I may not have persisted to the end of the book–and would’ve missed one of the most deeply resonant expressions:

“The incarnate world is the center of creation, not some lower level, but the very heart and soul of becoming as embodied life seeks to maximize our deepest potentials. We need physical life to actually reach maturity; we need the challenges and limitations as a means within which we can form and develop new structures and patterns of becoming.”19

Pagan Portals – Áine, by Kelle BanDea

Pagan Portals – Áine: Goddess of the Sun, Fairy Queen of Ireland, by Kelle BanDea
Moon Books, 1803419423, 104 pages, December 2025

A while back, I was at a hostel in Kalispell, Montana when another traveller offered to give me a psychic reading in exchange for reading her tarot cards. Out of all the things she told me, what stuck with me the most was how one day I would go to Ireland and deeply connect with a powerful red-haired goddess, changing my life forever. Well, I’ve yet to get myself to Ireland, nor have I pursued getting to know any Irish goddesses.

But when I first saw the cover for Pagan Portals – Áine: Goddess of the Sun, Fairy Queen of Ireland by Kelle BanDea, I was immediately drawn to the cover’s image. Who was this goddess with the flaming hair? Certainly one I’ve never heard of before! I’m so glad I followed my curiosity to read this book, as BanDea has done a wonderful job depicting Áine through stories and offering readers a multitude of ways to get to know her.

BanDea begins this book with an insightful introduction about Irish deities and fairies. Topics covered include the Tuatha Dé Danann, Fairy Faith, Irish Fire Festivals, the Celtic Revival, and Irish Travellers. This introduction is vital for someone new to Irish history, mythology, and folklore, as it situates what BanDea shares about Áine in the wider context. From cultural feelings towards fairies to understanding the Sidhe, this section attunes readers to the collective wisdom of Irish culture those on the outside might not otherwise be aware of.

“Part I – Áine in Myth and Folklore” is divided into two chapters. The first chapter, “Sun Goddess of the Tuatha de Danann”, focuses on Áine’s popular depiction as a love goddess associated with the sun. BanDea explores references to Áine in the Book of Invasions as well as mythology within Tuatha Dé Danann. What I found interesting was BanDea explaining how Áine’s name and the rituals associated with her, particularly at her hill in KnockÁiney, Ireland, highlight her association to Midsummer and land fertility.

Within this chapter BanDea also explores the associations of Áine as a Mother Goddess, Fertility Goddess, and Land Goddess. All of the information BanDea shares is well researched and provides a multifaceted approach to Áine, taking into consideration both the folklore as well as scholarly sources. She even covers her darker attributes, which potentially link her to the Morrigan and god Crom Cruach.

The second chapter, “Fairy Queen of Munster”, delves more specifically into the Áine’s folklore of being raped and then taking revenge through either murder or cutting off the man’s ear thus making him maimed and unable to be king, depending on the version. BanDea does a great job explaining how these stories of Áine, as well as countless other goddesses, were changed based on who is telling them, writing:

“Feminist theologians, noting this phenomenon of reducing goddesses to sinister spirits in many cultures, often frame this is a mythological parallel to how women’s ability to hold power in general was degraded over time, and how, under the Christian world in particular, women came to be seen as dangerously seductive; a natural temptation.”20

Therefore, she takes a measured approach in exploring Áine as a banshee and mermaid. I found these topics fascinating, especially BanDea’s exploration of the “magic wife” motif.

“Part II: Áine in Neopagan Practice” is where BanDea shifts towards offering ideas for working with Áine. First, she includes a guided journey to establish a connection. From here, BanDea shares Áine’s correspondences and folklore tips, reminding readers to use proper caution as she is a fairy. BanDea also offers insight on how Áine can support ancestral work, including a ritual to ask for her blessing on ancestral endeavours.

The next chapter focuses on Áine and seasonal workings, which is very fitting given her association with natural cycles, fertility, and abundance. BanDea shares magical workings that can be done at Midsummer, Lughnasadh, and Samhain. These range from a protection ritual to an abundance spell jar. I particularly appreciated the eco-spirituality consideration given in BanDea’s suggestion to adapt Áine’s rites “to bless the land with her protection, while making a commitment to do what you can to help both the Earth and those who will be most affected by man-made climate change.”21

Yet the chapter that stood out the most to me was “Áine in Ritual, Archetype, and Story”. As someone who has studied depth psychology for nearly a decade, it was a thrill to see BanDea include a whole chapter dedicated to working with the archetype of Áine. While I believe it’s important to not reduce deities to archetypes, this has always been how I personally connect the most with the stories and energies they hold. BanDea offers a guided journey to meet Áine as the Dark Maiden as well as meaningful questions that one might ponder or journal after working with one of Áine’s stories that resonates with them. In this context, Áine becomes a potent goddess those working through trauma can call on during their healing process.

My favorite thing overall about this book was BanDea’s perspective. She’s a feminist theologian and this shows in how she depicts Áine and offers insight into establishing a relationship with her. The mixture of healthy skepticism and honesty about the supernatural and spellwork make her a grounded voice for the subjects of such a mysterious goddess. While the content is rooted in primary sources and Irish culture, BanDea’s personal anecdotes and experience give shape to the text to make for an engaging read.

I also appreciated how BanDea acknowledges the different Neopagan approaches to working with deities. She has an appreciation for the wide variety of spiritual paths, and in turn makes the content she shares accessible without it becoming generalized, all the while encouraging respect for the culture from which Áine arises. BanDea is thoughtful as an author and guide, a wonderful attribute in someone offering an invitation to connect with a new deity.

All in all, while Pagan Portals – Áine is a quick read (I finished it front to back within the span of my daughter’s nap!), it is packed with the stories of an enigmatic goddess. BanDea’s exploration of Áine presents a well-rounded introduction for getting to know this goddess, leaving it up to the readers to discover her in her many forms: sun goddess, fairy queen, banshee, or even mermaid. The deep connection Áine has with the land of Ireland is sure to speak to those interested in eco-spirituality, while those who are seeking a protector as they heal trauma may also find solace in relationship with her.