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The Way of the Eight Winds, by Nigel Pennick

The Way of the Eight Winds: Elemental Magic and Geomancy in the Pagan Tradition, by Nigel Pennick
Destiny Books, 978-1644119864, 403 pages, January 2025

Let me tell you, as someone who has been deeply immersed in the world of astrology and spirituality since the 1970s, Nigel Pennick’s The Way of the Eight Winds: Elemental Magic and Geomancy in the Pagan Tradition immediately caught my eye. Right from the start, the idea of a spiritual path that celebrates the sheer diversity of the Cosmos and Nature’s endless creativity resonated with me. His deep dives into geomancy and elemental magic felt like a natural extension of my life journey, exploring how subtle energies shape our reality. My first thought? This book felt like a rare gem, blending serious scholarship with a truly hands-on approach. 

Pennick has a way of writing that pulls you in. He makes these really complex historical and philosophical ideas feel approachable, without ever dumbing them down. You can tell he’s not just writing about theory; he’s lived and breathed this stuff, a true scholar and practitioner all rolled into one. The book flows beautifully, starting with the big-picture philosophical ideas, then moving into cosmic principles, and finally getting down to the nitty-gritty of practical geomancy and creating sacred objects. It’s all laid out so logically, building one idea on top of another, making it easy to follow the thread of The Way of the Eight Winds.

One of the most captivating things for me was his focus on the “eldritch world” and Anima Loci, which he describes as the very spirit of a place. Pennick gets into how “The sacred nature of a place emanates directly from the Anima Loci and that any other usage of the place is an overlay derived externally, imposed by deliberate or accidental means over the original Anima Loci.”1 This idea, that places have their own intrinsic spiritual essence and that our actions can either nurture or harm it, resonated deeply with my astrological understanding of how planetary influences manifest in specific locations. For an astrologer like me, the thought that places themselves can be “ensouled,” and that we can actually interact with these energies, opens up a whole new dimension – it’s like extending a natal chart reading to include the very ground beneath our feet.

What I also loved is Pennick’s clear stance on direct experience. He makes it clear that The Way of the Eight Winds recognizes the essentially false nature of all dogma and doctrine and the destructive results of literalism.”2 That’s a massive point for me. It truly echoes my belief that genuine spiritual insight arises from personal engagement and intuition, rather than blindly following rules or doctrines. He even includes spiritual exercises like meditation and runic practices, offering concrete ways to tap into that direct experience. I haven’t had a chance to try everything yet, but his “Geomantic Walking”3 idea – essentially a quest to sense unseen forces in the environment – immediately jumped out. I can see myself incorporating that into my daily strolls here in Santa Ana, paying closer attention to the subtle energies of Orange County. 

And let me tell you, the historical context he provides is just fantastic. Pennick traces geomantic practices back through European history, from the ancient Etruscan Discipline to medieval traditions, and how they gradually got pushed aside by modern, more mechanical ways of looking at the world. He contrasts our current, often literal, understanding with traditional systems like the eight tides of the day and the eight winds. He even humorously points out how William of Occam’s razor, “Entities are not to be multiplied,”4 seems to be entirely ignored by modern engineers who love to complicate things! This historical perspective helps you grasp why it’s so important to reconnect with these ancient principles now.

All in all, The Way of the Eight Winds is a truly rich and thought-provoking read. It’s a gentle nudge, a reminder even, to open ourselves up to the subtle energies of the world and engage with our surroundings in a more mindful and respectful way. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone already involved in magic, geomancy, or pagan traditions – it’s an intermediate to expert level book, for sure. But honestly, any astrologer or anyone curious about the spiritual side of nature and place would get so much out of it. This book is absolutely going to influence my future astrological readings, pushing me to consider not just the stars above, but the very earth below for my clients. It’s truly inspired me to deepen my own geomantic practices and keep exploring those hidden landscapes right here at home.

The Call of the Old Gods, by Christopher McIntosh

The Call of the Old Gods: My Occult Journey on the Pagan Path, by Christopher McIntosh 
Inner Traditions, 978-1644119895, 266 pages, January 2025

The Call of the Old Gods: My Occult Journey on the Pagan Path by Christopher McIntosh is an invitation to journey alongside a seasoned scholar and practitioner as he navigates a deeply personal spiritual quest. McIntosh describes his life’s journey as a “spiral one,” rather than a straight line, “gradually spiraling toward the center”5. This memoir, which chronicles his move towards a pagan worldview, offers a unique blend of scholarly insight and personal experience. The author’s honesty about his early life, including challenging experiences and shifting beliefs, sets a tone of authenticity from the outset.

McIntosh’s writing style is articulate and engaging, balancing vivid personal anecdotes with profound philosophical reflections. He weaves together his life story with broader themes of spiritual exploration and the evolution of esoteric thought. The book is structured chronologically, moving through key periods and “encounters” that shaped his journey, making for a readable and digestible experience. Each chapter feels like a conversation with a wise friend, sharing insights gained through real-world experience. While the book touches on advanced esoteric concepts, McIntosh explains them in a way that is accessible to anyone with a genuine interest, making it suitable for intermediate seekers, but also offering rich rewards for experts. The quality of his sources, evident in the detailed endnotes, further attests to his scholarly background and dedication.

A notable subjective aspect is McIntosh’s candidness about his spiritual meanderings. His initial dabbling in Buddhism in adolescence, his brief flirtation with Judaism, and his eventual embrace of paganism illustrate the often non-linear nature of spiritual growth. The intellectual rigor he brings to his spiritual pursuits is also evident in his return to Oxford as a mature student for a D.Phil., focusing on eighteenth-century Rosicrucianism.

The author’s reflections on sacred space and the concept of “somewhere” are particularly striking. He observes that modern, generalized spiritual approaches, like a Prayer Hall of All Faiths at the UN, while well-intentioned, can be “absolutely devoid of any spiritual energy or atmosphere”6. He likens it to “the religious equivalent of Esperanto, which tries to be an ‘everywhere’ language and ends up being a ‘nowhere’ one”7.

This perspective underscores the idea that soulfulness “needs a nourishing soil in order to flourish, in other words a ‘somewhere'”. His experiences in Korea, Japan, and Germany, where he found “authentic, organic culture”8 and “somewhere” concentrated in mountainous areas or Zen gardens, bring this concept vividly to life.

Encounters with notable figures are a definite highlight. Narratives about friendships with occult luminaries, such as Aleister Crowley’s chief disciple Gerald Yorke, and the amusing anecdote of Kenneth Anger and the hedgehog offer rare, human glimpses into the lives of these personalities. The descriptions of meeting Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson, now the head of the Asatru community in Iceland, and their repeated, seemingly coincidental encounters, highlight the mysterious nature of synchronicity. McIntosh muses, “Coincidence is the universe thinking aloud”9, a sentiment that points to a deeper interconnectedness often defying linear logic.

McIntosh’s journey into paganism, particularly the Nordic tradition (Asatru), is a poignant aspect of the book. He frames his eventual embrace of it around a fivefold path—the soul, mind, heart, belly, and the feet, representing connection to the land and ancestors. This holistic framework is both profound and practical. His embrace of the Nordic gods, feeling their call through his ancestral line and the richness of their myths and symbols, illustrates a powerful spiritual homecoming.

In conclusion, The Call of the Old Gods is more than just a memoir; it’s a testament to the enduring power of genuine spiritual seeking and the rich tapestry of esoteric traditions. McIntosh’s life story serves as an inspiring example of how one can navigate diverse paths, overcome personal challenges, and ultimately find a sense of belonging and meaning. This book is recommended for individuals on a spiritual journey, especially those who feel a pull toward polytheistic or nature-based traditions, or who are simply curious about the lives of modern esotericists. The book encourages a re-engagement with the spirits of the world, suggesting that true enchantment lies not just in distant realms, but in the conscious interaction with our immediate surroundings.

Pagan Portals: Hellenic Paganism, by Samantha Leaver

Pagan Portals – Hellenic Paganism, by Samantha Leaver
Moon Books, 9781789043235, 104 pages, March 2021

When I first got my hands on this book, I thought I knew what it was going to be about. I mean, it’s Hellenic so it’s about Greek Gods and Goddesses, right? Let’s be clear: Pagan Portals – Hellenic Paganism by Samantha Leaver is not the typical book that lists the various Olympian deities and provides a basic framework for how and when to worship them. No, this book goes much deeper than that. 

Citing a life-long fascination with Greek mythology, Leaver has crafted a beautifully written book that details the many participants in the Hellenic pantheon. A self-proclaimed Kitchen Witch, Leaver has always felt drawn to the Mediterranean and this book is her personal journey through the various deities and how she works with them in order to foster a connection with the divine. 

Chock full of useful information around the practice as a whole, the book starts with an artfully crafted introduction that explains the society of the Hellenes and gives a brief overview of what Hellenic Paganism is. Leaver makes points on how things have changed since those times, noting that some of the Hellenic practices are no longer viable choices in today’s society. She suggests a variety of ways to do the same things in today’s context, something I found to be quite helpful in aligning myself with the practices in a modern time.

Written simply and with a profound sense of reverence, this book is a delightful entry point into the mythical world of the Greeks and the way they performed their rituals. Leaver clearly enjoys herself as she writes and is eager to share all that she has learned in her personal journey through the pantheon, while at the same time making distinctions between their world and our time. She notes that the psychological aspect of Hellenism differs from other well-known forms of religion, saying:

“Hellenism is more about connecting with and understanding the relationship you have to the natural world, it is all about living the best life you possibly can, with virtue, rather than sin, punishment, and redemption.”7

I really appreciated the depth of knowledge imparted by Leaver, as she delved into many aspects of ancient Hellenic life. Maybe some would find it tedious and want her to get on with the spells already, but I want to know where the rituals and ceremonies come from and why they were done. To me, that fleshes out the ‘why’ of the practice and I feel that is a vital piece of the ritual puzzle.

Leaver points out that much like Wicca, there are multiple paths in Hellenic Paganism and details a few to show their similarities. With that comes different names for deities in the pantheon, something I had not considered much to my chagrin. Of course there would be different names for deities depending on where you lived. Why would everyone use the same name? We don’t even have the same for a spatula in today’s society (seriously, it IS a spatula, not a lifter, and I will fight you). 

What I loved about gleaning this particular nugget of information is that Leaver also expresses her own double-take. She says, “To be honest, I thought I had a good handle on the Gods, until simple things like, ‘wait, the Hellenics call them Theoi’ happened, or ‘wait, there are numerous versions of each mythology out there by different writers at different times.’”8

This admission of disconnect solidified that this was the book for me. The honesty with which Leaver presents her journey, flawed as it was, is an absolute dream to partake of. It also made me feel much better about my own personal journey, as I have experienced similar things while bobbing along trying to figure out what kind of witch I am and who I should devote my time to. There is a difference between knowing that these things happen with others and then actually reading about an experience, and while it’s uncomfortable to watch others struggle in their search for sovereignty, it’s comforting to know that despite what path we find ourselves on, we are all having similar experiences. 

The book is cleverly divided into four parts and a section called “Closing thoughts from a Modern Hellenic Pagan.” The four sections clearly divide up the vast knowledge Leaver has on Hellenic Paganism: the introduction is both straightforward in laying out the structure of the information that will be presented and Leaver’s own journey along this particular path. Subsequent sections titled “Living the Path”, “Relationship with Deity’” and “Magic and Mysticism” are equally well laid out and written in a very approachable manner. 

It’s always interesting to take something like auspicious days and try to make them relevant to today’s society. Leaver does this admirably, making connections to more modern tactics rather than leaving you to figure it out on your own. The best example of this is listed in Hesiod’s Auspicious Days: Day 4: a good day to bring home a bride, begin building narrow ships, and open jars. Leaver offers another way to look at it, saying, “I like to think of this day as the day to begin building projects, a crafty or creative day. This is also a good day to take care to avoid troubles that eat out the heart. I like to use some time on this day to concentrate on all that is good in my life.”10

Pagan Portals – Hellenic Paganism is a great jumping on point for those interested in Hellenic Paganism or just want a deeper dive on the Greek pantheon. I found the information to be very helpful and detailed in a way that was not overwhelming. One thing I did not expect was how many gods and goddesses are considered to be part of the Greek pantheon: there are literally too many to name. If you have even a glimmer of interest in knowing more about this particular branch of paganism, I highly recommend picking up this book. I am happy to add it to my growing collection of books.