Book Reviews of 2023

Book Review: Celebrating the Male Mysteries by RJ Stewart (affiliate link)

In Celebrating the Male Mysteries, RJ Stewart shares the importance of exploring the masculine mysteries and presents a healthy vision of what such mysteries can look like as well as how they can interface into mystery traditions in general. Practical exercises and theory are presented as well as specific visualizations that men can use for sacromagical work. I recommend reading through the book once and then going back through and doing the exercises. This book can be an excellent companion to other men’s work books and offers another valuable resource for creating healthy masculinity and relationships.

Book Review: Larva: the Book of Transformation by S. Connolly (Affiliate link)

This is a collection of spells with well-written instructions and component lists that you can easily perform without having to do a ton of work to get the materials together. There are a variety of spells for different purposes so you could easily be working with the content of this book for a variety of situations.

Book Review: Saturn in Transit by Erin Sullivan (affiliate link)

I bought this book on the recommendation of a friend and I’m glad I did because it provided some excellent insights into Saturn in transit and how Saturn as an astrological influence works. It also helped me plan some of my planetary magic in further depth so that I could use Saturnian influences more effectively. I highly recommend this book if you want to understand the astrological and magical potential of Saturn.

Book Review: Meditations on the Death Daemonic by J. C. Cesari (Affiliate link)

This is an interesting book that explores the concept of death in relationship to death as it pertains to loss in a variety of forms, including the loss of life, but also the loss of a job, relationship or other aspects we may not typically associate with death. The author has the reader go through some journaling exercises to explore their relationship with death and then presents a dictionary of spirits a person can work with. What I wish had also been included was an in-depth exploration of how a person might work with the spirits around death as it relates to the topics that the author focuses on in the book. It’s a good start on that exploration, but the book could be developed further.

Book Review: Dark Moon Mysteries by Timothy Roderick (Affiliate link)

If you want to work with the new/dark moon, this is an excellent resource to help you do that work. I used the various exercises in this book to help me do some deep shadow work as well as doing some releasing around various matters in my life. I highly recommend this book.

Book Review: The Male Mysteries by Nikki Dorakis (affiliate link)

In this book the author shares rites and rituals that can be used as coming of age or initiations for men’s mysteries in a Pagan context. This is a fascinating book which can really help men both in terms of using what’s in the book, but also designing their own male mysteries.

Book Review: Howlings from the Pit (affiliate link) by Joseph Lisiewski

In this series of essays the author makes some cantankerous arguments as to why grimoire magic works and why other systems of magic don’t work when it comes to spirit work. He shares some interesting perspectives, but I’m not convinced that his system of spirit work is superior to others, especially because it can be possible to get similar results without taking coercive methods for spirit work. The author’s own limitations also show in the theories he espouses, and demonstrate how subjective some of his arguments are, but the book is thought provoking and will challenge you to be more rigorous.

Book Review: Mating in Captivity (affiliate link) by Esther Perel

This is a really thought and emotion provoking book about sexuality in relationship. Reading it brought up a lot for me, as I sorted through some baggage around my sexual history, but it also provided some useful insights about relationships, the erotic and sexuality and what it can take to maintain the sexual components of a romantic relationship. It also brings up the very important point of not taking sex or anything else in the relationship for granted.

Book Review: Swamplands of the Soul (Affiliate link) by James Hollis

In this book the author explores how to deal with the inevitable realities of moments in our lives when we feel depression, sadness, loss, betrayal and other emotions. He shares that rather than trying to always be happy we should strive for meaning and provides some useful perspectives via Jungian psychology on how a person might do this. It’s another excellent book by this author.

Book Review: The Book of Pluto by Steven Forrest (Affiliate link)

Reading this book peeled back another layer of astrology in general, as well as helping me understand Pluto’s role in astrology. It helped me understand and fill in some additional information about astrology. I feel like my overall knowledge of astrology grew as a result of reading this book.

Book Review: Hex Twisting by Diana Rajchel (affiliate link)

This is a comprehensive spell compendium for counteracting hexes and curses that someone may be directing toward you. The author also shares methods for diagnosing whether you are experiencing a curse as well as how to purify and cleanse yourself. It’s both practical self care and defense and the author does a thorough job of providing resources for anyone who may need them.

Book Reviews Jan to July 2023

Book Review: Discipline is Destiny by Ryan Holiday (Affiliate link)

In this book, the author explores the virtue of discipline and shares historical examples of when discipline has been exercised and when it has not. I found this book to be really relevant to my journey. I can be impulsive in my decision making and choices and reading this book helped me recognize where I need to rein in my emotions and impulses and approach a given situation from a more systematic awareness and perspective. I highly recommend this book to anyone as it provides some ideas on how to be more disciplined in your life.

Book Review: The Path of the Warrior-Mystic by Angel Millar (Afilliate link)

The author explores what sacred masculinity looks like in an age of chaos, advocated for men to simultaneously be in touch with their warrior and mystic aspects. It’s more of a philosophy book than anything else, but the author brings up some interesting points ty too consider about what it means to be a man and how to transform one’s relationship with masculinity.

Book Review: Choose Yourself by James Altucher (Affiliate link)

This is an amazing experience…not just a book, a way of thinking about and approach the world where you truly choose yourself and empower yourself in the process. Reading this book has helped me take some big risks and make some decisions that I might have made differently or with more hesitation . I am choosing myself and I’m much happier as a result.

Book Review: Honoring Death by S. Connolly (Affiliate link)

This is guide to necromantic magic with a Daemonic twist. The author shares how to work with Daemonic spirits to do better necromancy. This is a good intro book to necromancy with some basic spell work that can be employed as well as essential theory behind working with the ghosts of people who have passed on, or helping to move on fully.

Book Review: Saturn by Liz Greene (Affiliate Link)

This was a very interesting book to read about the astrological aspects of Saturn. The author did an excellent job of presenting a different take on Saturn which is not rooted in treating Saturn as a malefic force, but rather explores the function and purpose of Saturn and shows readers how they can work with Saturnine energies instead of resisting them. It helped me get a better perspective on how to work with Saturn in my life.

Book Review: The Appearance of Power by Tanner Guzy (Affiliate link)

The Appearance of Power is an intriguing book which explores style and fashion for men from the perspective of power and how men dress to display power. Reading it made me consider some of my fashion choices and why I dress certain ways as well as how I can make different choices with my appearance, both in terms of clothes and in terms of other aesthetics.

Book Review: Living an Examined Life by James Hollis (Affiliate link)

Living an examined life presents 21 lessons that you can apply to your life to change it in meaningful ways. This is an excellent book to read regardless of what stage you are at in your life, but I found it to be very helpful as I navigate my mid forties. It helped me start living a much more intentional and focused life as I considered how best to apply the lessons contained within.

Book Review: Phallos by Eugene Monick (affiliate link)

Phallos explores the sacred mythology around the genitalia of men. The author draws on a variety of myths and archetypes to explore and venerate the masculine genitalia and provides a different perspective on how we can have a better relationship with ourselves and the sacred masculine.

Book Review: Fire in the Belly by Sam Keen (Affiliate Link)

This is a dynamic book that explores why its necessary for men to go through initiatory experiences and explores what it means to be a man in today’s world. The author deconstructs the toxic myths around masculinity and shares why it is essential for men to do the work they need to do together in order to heal themselves and their relationships with women. This book proved to be very helpful in my own work.

Book Review: Soulshaping by Jeff Brown (Affiliate link)

A fascinating memoir and instructional guide on how to listen to your soul and be shaped by your purpose and meaning. Reading this book helped me get comfortable with my confusion, fears, and questions and make better sense of the path I was on. We don’t always know where we’re going but if we learn to trust our inner guidance we can find the path.

Book Review: The Path of Least Resistance by Robert Fritz (affiliate link)

This is an insightful book that unpacks the difference between creativity and problem solving and enables you to become a creator of your life as well as whatever else you want to create. The author shows you how the structures of life set up the behavior patterns and how making deep changes with is essential for creating the life you want.

Books Reviews October 2022 to December 2022

Book Review: Venus and Aphrodite: History of a Goddess by Bettany Hughes (Affiliate link)

This is a fascinating history and biography of Aphrodite that traces her roots back to prehistoric times and shows how the goddess morphed from Inanna/Ishtar in the East to Aphrodite/Venus. I’d consider this book an essential read if you want to learn more about the mysteries of Aphrodite and develop a closer relationship with the goddess.

Book Review: The Way of Men by Jack Donovan (affiliate link)

This is an interesting book that argues for an approach to masculinity that is focused around the concept of men being in a gang. I didn’t agree with all of the author’s perspectives, but my main take away was the recognition that men do need to bond with each other and men have been taught not to do that as much in the modern era. It’s a thought provoking read about what masculinity is and what it could be.

Book Review: No More Mr. Nice Guy by Robert Glover (Affiliate link)

This is a must read book for both men and women. While the book addresses behaviors of so-called nice guys, a lot of the behaviors cross over and show up with anyone who has co-dependency issues. What this book helps a recovering nice guy do is recognize their own value and needs and actually learn how to advocate for them, instead of continuing to give away their sense of power and identity. This is an excellent, must read book that can help anyone who needs to learn how to stop being a nice guy, so they can actually become a person who loves themselves and others in the best possible way.

Book Review: Hearticulations by Jeff Brown (affiliate link)

This is a must read book that provides some deep insights into the nature of the heart, relationships, healing from trauma and so much more. Reading this book helped me on my path to self love and provided me with insights to help me heal and work through some of my deeper baggage. This is a book that anyone would benefit from.

Book Review: Awareness by Anthony De Mello (affiliate link)

This is an eye-opening book that can help you understand how to cultivate genuine awareness in your life and show you how your attachments are getting in the way of that awareness. Reading this book and applying its practices along with my self-love practice has made a significant impact in my life and changed the way I approach and think about situations, love, people, and most importantly myself.

Book Review: Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends on it by Kamal Ravikant (Affiliate link)

This book has been a life changer for me. It’s helped me find a way to self-validate through self-love and also release a lot attachments to outcomes and expectations. The practice is simple to apply, but sticking with it is key. It has changed my life in a month for the better and is something I’ll stick with for the rest of my life.

Book Review: A Lantern in the Dark by Danielle Blackwood (Affiliate link)

When you are going through life’s transitions it can be helpful to have a guide that provides illumination for the path forward, and to help you look back. This book is one such guide and it is an essential one. I wish I had read it in my early 40’s, but even reading it now, I find that it has given me some valuable insights and perspectives on the experiences in my life and it is helping me work with the necessary spiritual forces as I make plans for the rest of my life. I highly recommend this book to anyone as it will provide very helpful information on the crossroads of your life.

Book Review: The Way to Love by Anthony De Mello (Affiliate link)

Another fascinating book by De Mello which explores the nature of love and attachment and how each is different from the other. This was thought-provoking and challenging but gave me a lot to consider. I highly recommend it as a book to read that can change your relationship with love.

Book Review: King, Magician, Warrior, Lover By Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette (affiliate link)

This is a fascinating book that looks at the archetypes of masculinity, both in terms of the immature and mature masculine using the roles of the King, Warrior, Magician, and Lover as the archetypes. Reading this book helped me reflect on these roles in my own life and how I have sometimes embodied the immature masculine as well as the mature masculine. It’s given me ideas on how I can ground into the mature masculine more using the appropriate roles, while also being aware of the shadow aspects and how to work with them better.

Book Review: Wisdom of Love by Laurelei Black (Affiliate link)

The author presents a modern system of divination using Cowrie shells. She does an excellent job of explaining how the system works and how you can become proficient with it. She also provides a few sample readings. I’ve been using it each day and I’m getting accurate readings.

Book Review: The Eden Project: In Search of the Magical Other by James Hollis (Affiliate link)

This book explores the myth of the magical other, the person that will supposedly complete you and heal all your wounds. The author debunks this myth and shows how we project onto other people what we are looking for, when the healing work we need to be doing is the work within ourselves. By doing this work we can free ourselves of the need for the magical other and have healthier relationships with the people in our lives. This book took the scales off my eyes about my relationships and my role in them and showed me why its essential to let go of the attachment to the magical other.

Book Review: What women want in a man by Bruce Bryans (Affiliate link)

This is an interesting book. There’s some points I agree with and other points I disagree with, but reading it made me think about the relationships I had in the past and consider how I showed up in the relationships and how the women in my life responded to how I showed up. It’s worth reading if you want to take a different look at yourself and how you show up in relationships.

Book Review: What women want when they test men by Bruce Bryans (Affiliate link)

Reading this book was hard, because I initially had some knee jerk reactions but when I really began to consider what the author was sharing I was able to identify the behaviors he spoke of. It helped me understand my past relationships from a different angle and see some of the ways that a man can get tested and not even realize it. It gave me some deep food for thought on how I can be better grounded and aware of myself, and be less of a so-called nice guy.

Book Review: Live Your Truth by Kamal Ravikant (Affiliate link)

Another excellent book which explores why it’s important to live your truth, whatever that is, from a place of genuine honesty and connection. The various insights have helped me with my self-love journey and with bring my life to a different place where I am being honest with myself and what I really want, while also being less attached to all the things that otherwise get in the way.

Book Reviews June 2022

Book Review: Creating by Robert Fritz (Affiliate link)

This is one of the most unique and thought provoking books I’ve read. The author explores the act of creating in depth. The perspective and depth he brings to the topic of creativity can help you change your understanding of creativity, what it means to create and also become more creative in the process. His perspective on long term thinking, alone is invaluable and necessary.

Book Review: Vastu by Robert Svoboda (affiliate link)

This is a fascinating book which explores the nature of space and how to create an intentional space using knowledge of pranayama and the 5 elements. The author shares case studies of applying vastu to spaces. It was a really unique take on how people embrace and live within a given space. I found the magical aspects to be helpful in designing my own space.

Book Review: The Courage to Be Happy by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga (affiliate link)

Another thought provoking book that will change your life and how you approach love and happiness. Reading this book has provided me valuable insights and I have no doubt I’ll come back to it again and again to learn and consider and apply these principles to my life. Some of what is read isn’t easy to read but it will make you think and grow if you make the choice to consider how to apply it to your life.

Book Review: Mistakes were Made (but not by me) by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson (affiliate link)

This is an eye-opening book that can help you recognize the dissonance in your own life and how you apply that dissonance to justify your choices and mistakes. Reading this book wasn’t easy for me. It caused me to reflect on my mistakes and see instances where I created my own sense of dissonance to justify my choices and behaviors, but reading it also helped me take better ownership and responsibility for those choices. I recommend reading this book because it will help you reflect on how you rationalize your own choices and how you reduce dissonance with those choices.

Book Review: The Tai Chi Space by Paul Cavel (affiliate link)

I recommend reading this book if you have experience with qi gong because then you can take on what is shared and apply it. However like any book on martial arts, the limitation of the book is that text and diagrams can only take you so far. I think it’s a useful supplementary guide that can help you appreciate the movements if you already have experience in those movements, but will not help much if you have no experience.

Book Review: The Art of Black Mirror Scrying by Rosemary Guiley (Affiliate link)

This book presents a fascinating history of scrying, which is a must read if you want to learn more about the background of scrying. The author also provides some explanations for how scrying works and includes exercises you can do to sharpen your skills. She also explains how to create a black mirror for scrying. The book is well written and provided some useful information on scrying.

Book Review: The Process of Creating Life by Christopher Alexander (Affiliate link)

This is another amazing book in this series that explores how architectural design can be used to create a living space. What I found most interesting was how the author wove in multiple disciplines and schools of thought into this work. I read this book over the course of a couple years because it really requires some digestion and perspective, especially if you’re not an architect, which I am now. I nonetheless find the insights are relevant to my own practices and am thankful for this book.

Book Review: The descent of Ishtar by Timothy Stephany (affiliate link)

A translation of the The descent of Ishtar and related sumerian myths. I didn’t get a sense of the Akkadian version, but found the overall content to be fascinating and insightful in regards to some research I’m doing. I do wish the author had included some analysis and translation notes.

Book Review: Courage is Calling by Ryan Holiday (Affiliate link)

Another excellent book from the modern day stoic Ryan Holiday which explores the virtue of courage and how you can instill it in your life. He share some excellent historical stories, but more importantly he explores what it takes to be courageous and what can happen wen you aren’t. Reading this book has helped me see the moments where I hesitated and could have been braver, and also sown what I can do to be braver in my life.

Book Review: Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown (Affiliate link)

This book is a survey of the emotions and how we feel and experience them, but it also more than that. It is an opportunity to explore our relationship with the emotions, but also with connection/disconnection and the way we show up with ourselves and others. Reading this book and meditating on what was shared opened me up to some good realizations, showed me where I need to continue working on my ability to connect with others meaningfully and gave me some direction during a tough time in my life.

Book Reviews July 2021

Book Review: The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday (Affiliate link)

This book explores how to turn the obstacles in your life into opportunities by learning how to work through them and define them instead of being defined by them. The historical tales the author shares are helpful for understanding the concepts and practices he shares. I found this book helpful in my approach to working through obstacles because it helped me see how I could turn those obstacles into a path, instead of letting them stop me.

Book Review: The Sedona Method by Hale Dwoskin (affiliate link)

The Sedona Method walks you through how to release emotions and experiences around areas of your life where you are having challenges. What I like about this book is that they focus on releasing around both positive and negative experiences for a wide variety of situations. I’ve found that applying the practices has been helpful in situations that would otherwise be upsetting.

Book Review: Sacred Geography by Marko Pogacnik (affiliate link)

This is a fascinating book which explores geomancy and how to apply it to your spiritual practice. While I don’t agree with all the author’s perspectives, I think this a valuable book that will help you connect with the spirits of the land, and with the land itself. The exercises are very useful provided you apply them.

Book Review: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk (Affiliate link)

I found this to be a very helpful book, because it gave me a different lens to understand my own traumas and triggers and provided some ideas on things I can do to address those traumas and triggers. It’s a book I would recommend anyone read who has gone through trauma, but fair warning the author is candid about the trauma that may be triggering. I still recommend reading it for the insights it may provide you.

Book Review: Why Time Flies by Alan Burdick (Affiliate Link)

Why Time Flies is an interesting book that explores our relationship with time. The author shares some of the scientific research about time and shares some personal perspectives about it. I also found the bibliography fascinating. It’s a well written book and if you’re interested in time, you’ll enjoy it.

Book Review: Wintering by Katherine May (Affiliate Link)

This is a powerful and much needed book which explores our relationship with sorrow. The author mostly speaks to this through her own journeys and experiences of wintering. I found this book to be really needed during the winter I find myself in. It is good to know you aren’t alone and to also carry some compassion moving forward.

Book Review: Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday (Affiliate link)

Stillness is the key is an excellent book which explores the topic of stillness and how to bring it into your life in a crazy world. We live in chaotic times, but who hasn’t done that? The author draws on historic examples to illustrate how stillness works and how it has benefitted people, nations and the world itself when people have taken a moment to be still. If you’re seeking some stillness in your life, this book can point you in some fruitful directions.

Book Review: Polysecure by Heather Fern (affiliate link)

I found this to be a very helpful book to read as I start exploring polyamory again, after a long hiatus. It helped me “catch up” on the changes, but more importantly it allowed me to examine my my past relationships with other people as well as the relationship I have with myself. I found the realizations helpful in allowing me to heal from some recent changes in my life, and it also provided me a direction to move my emotional health. I’d recommend this book to anyone, whether you’re poly or monogamous, because I think it actually unearth’s some deep issues in relationship structures that often go unaddressed. I feel like using the tools in this book are also helping me become more secure in myself so that when I am ready to date again, I’ll do it from a place of confidence and security.

Book Reviews March Through August 2020

Book Review: Pain Free by Pete Egoscue (Affiliate link)

I picked this book up on the recommendation of a colleague and I’ m glad I did. The author does an excellent job of explaining why are feeling pain in your body and then shows you simple stretches you can do daily to relieve the pain. Not only did this book help me understand the source of chronic pain I’ve dealt with, but it also freed me of that pain, through the stretches. I’ve noticed an overall improvement in my health since using this book and I highly recommend it.

Book Review: Six Ways by Aidan Wachter (Affiliate link)

This book is packed with exercise and concepts that will keep you busy. I would highly recommend it for anyone starting or with some experience who wants to challenge what they know to discover what they can learn. Aidan draws from a variety of perspectives and his experiences and makes the work approachable for his readers. Don't just read this book. Work the exercises and practices and you'll see your magical practice transform.

Book Review: Egregores By Mark Stavish (Affiliate link)

This is more of an academic treatise on egregores than anything else, but the author presents an interesting take on the subject and explores examples of different egregores and how those egregores can effect the people that work with them, for better or worse. He also presents ways to break the connection with an egregore. It’s a good book on the topic and worth giving a read to better understand the nature of egregores.

Book Review: How to Meet and Work with Spirit Guides by Ted Andrews (Affiliate Link)

This was the first book I ever read on magic. I recently re-read this book and even reading it many years later, a lot of the material ages well. Some of it would now be considered culturally appropriative, but overall the material is solid and the techniques and practices work. If you’re wanting an introduction to the spirit world this is a good book to read.

Book Review: Endless Ideas by Sean Platt and Neeve Silver (affiliate link)

If you feel creatively stumped for ideas, this book is a must read. While most of the practices they describe in the book are ones I already do, I can vouch for the fact that they work because I have a ton of creative ideas. What’s nice is that while this book is focused on generating ideas for writing, you can apply the concepts and techniques to any discipline and get similar results.

Book Review: Opening the Energy Gates of your Body by Bruce Frantzis (affiliate link)

This is an excellent book to read with easy to follow exercises that can help you start learning qi gong. The author does a great job of breaking down the actions you need to take, along with example diagrams and pictures. It’s a good supplement to in person or video training and what it really teaches you is how to cultivate the qi in your body. I have done these practices and benefited greatly from them.

Book Review: Living Spirits by BJ Swain (Affiliate link)

This is a comprehensive exploration of Western occult magic practices with spirits. The author does a good job laying out how various western practices work and its clear he’s researched the subject extensively (as well as done the practices). I like the analyses he provides in the appendices and found the book to overall be thought provoking. Even when I didn’t agree with the author, I really respected the way he presented the material and how accessible he made it. If you want to understand Western spirit work practices this is a great book to pick up.

Book Reviews Jan through March 2019

Book Review: The Poetics of Space by Gaston Bachelard

This is a whimsical book which explores the poetics of space, of the home, and the environment. It asks you to redefine your awareness of spaces you take for granted and provides appreciation and perspective about what space is really about. What I liked is how the author combined poetry, philosophy and design to create this treatise and its one I'll return to from time to time to help me appreciate my own space anew.

Book Review: Processmind by Arnold Mindell

In this book the author explores how to connect with the environment through meditation and internal work. This is a fascinating book which examines not only how we relate to the human body, but also to the environment through our body, both natural and manmade. It provides some useful exercises that can help you implement the practices described in the book. Worth reading if you want to develop a deeper connection with reality.

Book Review: The Courage to be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga

This is a must read book which will transform your relationship with yourself and your community. This book has helped me examine my relationship with myself as a writer and artist, but also as a person and the lessons its provided me have helped me become more confident and focused on doing the work instead of worrying about things I can’t control. It’s a relatively quick read with a socratic dialogue, but take some time to ponder and meditate on what is shared.

Book Review: Zero to One by Peter Thiel with Blake Masters

This is a fascinating, must read book on startups that applies to any business. The principles in this book will help you start a business or change an existing one. Most importantly what this book teaches you is how to focus on making your business successful, without falling into the trap of competition. Instead you learn why its important to do your own thing well and with a plan.

Book Review: Stealing Fire by Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal

This is a fascinating overview of the ways people are exploring ecstatic practices in modern times. I don’t feel its comprehensive as there’s areas the authors haven’t explored but its a good book, which can give you some food for thought about how altered states of consciousness can be applied to your life to increase your innovativeness and productivity. What it also reveals is the importance of altered states of consciousness for helping us achieve breakthroughs.

Book Review: White Moon on the Mountain Peak by Damo Mitchell

This is an excellent book which explores the alchemical firing process of Nei Gong and how it works. It’s not a book for beginners, and it requires that you already have some experiences with Taoist meditation practices. I read this book and clearly understood some of it, and some of it I realized I needed to go back and get some more experience. The author does present the information clearly, but its important that you have the requisite experience to fully implement and comprehend this book.

Book Reviews Nov-Jan 2018

Book Review: Seasonal Occult Rituals by William G. Gray

In Seasonal Occult Rituals, Gray lays out the structure of 4 occult rituals that can be done for the seasons and explains the methodology behind the rituals. Just as importantly, Gray also provides readers an opportunity to build their quarter cosmos for each season and for each quarter of the circle. whether you do the rituals or not, you’ll learn a lot about how to build your cosmology from reading this book.

Book Review: A whole new mind by Daniel Pink

In this book, the author explore right brained thinking and how the job market is being defined by right brained thinking. While this book was written a while, the premise that the author has shared has only become more true since the book was written, and its worth reading the book because it provides readers a way to understand how the modern world is changing and being defined by right brain thinking. The author also provides some useful exercises that can help you apply right brain thinking to your life.

Book Review: Playback: The Magic of William S. Burroughs by Ashe Journal

This is a collection of essays and poetry about William S. Burroughs. The essays touch on some of Burroughs spiritual interests and one addresses his magical work, but for the most part this collection doesn’t do justice to the magical work of Burroughs and that’s disappointing. There’s a lot of magical concepts in Burroughs work and it would be good if there was an actual book that explored his magical practices. This collection isn’t it.

Book Review: Evoking the Primal Goddess by William G. Gray

Evoking the Primal Goddess was the last book Gray wrote. It’s an interesting book which explores the divine feminine and Gray has some interesting theories and ideas. At times the book wanders a bit and I would take some of what he shares with a grain of salt, but its worth a reading and pondering because as always Gray makes you think.

Book Review: The man who lied to his laptop by Clifford Nass and Corina Yen

This is a fascinating book which explores how people relate to technology by attributing human behavior to the technology. The authors share some experiments that were conducted that demonstrate that people often view their technology from an anthropomorphic lens. They then transfer their observations over to human behavior in general, showing how these lessons can be applied to your everyday interactions. Worth a read if you want to understand how to relate to people (and machines) better.

Book Review: Dare to Lead by Brene Brown

This is another excellent book by Brene Brown which explores how to apply the principles of her work to team settings in workplaces, but can also be applied to your personal life. I particularly found the story technique helpful, as well as the value exercise, but the entire book has excellent perspectives that can help you become a better communicator with yourself and others.

7 Book Reviews

Book Review: The Physics of Angels by Mathew Fox and Rupert Sheldrake

This is a fascinating book which explores the mythos of Angels and relates the description of Angels to contemporary Physics. I enjoyed learning more about the mythology of Angels, though I did find the physics metaphor to be a bit of a stretch. Thankfully they focused mostly on them mythology of the Angels, and specifically in regards to three classic perspectives on Angels via Dionysus the Areopagite, St. Augustine and Hildegarde of Bingen. I found the quotes and commentary to be interesting in relationship to understanding Angels, but would note that the focus of this book was Christiancentric and didn't really represent any other perspective on Angels from Quabalah or Islam. That said, if you're interested in learning more about Angels, this is a useful book to read.

Book Review: Essentialism by Greg McKeown

Do you ever feel like life is too complicated or like you're going in too many directions at once? If so, you need to read this book. The author does an excellent job of portraying the discipline of the essentialist, the person who only focuses on what is essential and eliminates the non-essential in the process. In this book the author shows what the difference is between the essential and non-essential and provides suggestions on how to implement essentialism in your life. I've found it to be very helpful in my own life as I've been undergoing changes, and I recommend this book to anyone who feels like life is overwhelming and complicated.

Book Review: The 7 Secrets of the Prolific by Hillary Rettig

The 7 Secrets of the Prolific is an excellent book for writers who have writer's block or have troubles with procrastination. The author does an excellent job of exploring what stops people from writing and helping them figure out what actions to take. Even for someone who is prolific, this book will have some valuable insights. I found it helpful for recognizing some behaviors that have stopped me from being as productive with my writing as I'd like. She also does a good job of exploring the realities of being a published author and how to think of your writing as a business. If you want to be more productive with your writing check this book out. 

Book Review: Western Inner Workings by William. G. Gray

This is another excellent by William G. Gray that explores the inner workings of Western Mystery traditions. It's as comprehensive book that explores a number of salient issues, such as sacred kingship, the function of ceremonial tools, mediation and ties all of them together in a way that enables the reader to go deep with Western Mystery traditions, while also developing their own cosmological models. I've found this book to be very useful in some of my own ongoing work and would recommend it as well as Gray's other books to anyone serious about developing their magical practice.

Book Review: Welcome to your World by Sarah Williams Goldhagen

Welcome to your world is an intriguing book which explores how the environment we build around us affects us, as well as how we navigate that reality. What I find really fascinating is how the author integrates cognitive and bodily experiences into the book so that we're not just looking at the environment, but also our own place in space. If you want to understand space, building designs, or how you navigate the world around this is an excellent book to read because it provides you a way to look at your environment from a unique perspective and consider how you situate yourself in the world around you as well as how bring good design into your life and improve your circumstances as a result.

Book Review: Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

This is a must read book for any artist, writer, musician or creative. What I like about it is that author walks you through the life of being a writer, the challenges and the joys and reminds us that any creative act is really a communion with the divine, with the writer as the mediator. Reading this book helped me re-examine my writing practice in terms of how I approach and appreciate the ideas that come to me. I would highly recommend this book to any successful and aspiring writer.

4 Book Reviews for January 2018

Book Review: On Writing by Stephen King

In on Writing, the author shares both an autobiographical account of his life as a writer as well as his tips and suggestions for being a writer. While the book primarily deals with writing for fiction, I feel the ideas shared can be applicable to non-fiction as well. It had some good insights on both the act of writing and the business of writing. If you are serious about writing then pick this book up to help you on your journey.

Book Review: The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks

I found this to be a very helpful book because it helped me recognize how I was limiting myself in different situations in my life and it equipped me with processes I could use to call that out and start working through it. Also reading this book has helped me ask what my zone of genius is and start being true to that zone of genius instead of getting distracted and weighed down by work I don't really want to do. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to discover their zone of genius and stop getting in their own way.

Book Review: The Old Sod: the odd life and inner work of William G. Gray by Alan Richardson and Marcus Claridge

I've been a fan of William Gray's magical work since the late 90s. I've also had the fortune of meeting a few of his students and learning about the actual man as well as the magician. I found this biography to be useful as well in filling in some blanks about the actual person and providing some context around his magical work. Whether you're interested in the magicians of the 20th century or a fan of Gray's work, this is a good book that shares his life, faults and successes.

Book Review: The Power of Ted by David Emerald

In this intriguing book, The author explores the Drama triangle that many people find themselves in and offers an alternative, The Empowerment Dynamic. He shows how the drama triangle disempowers people and creates a lot of drama because of the conflict generated in it. With the Empowerment Dynamic, the author shows you how to claim the role of creator and change your relationship with yourself and other people by choosing how you approach situations. I found this book to be insightful in terms of recognizing ways I've disempowered myself and been a victim. Implementing the concepts in this book helped me start making changes that have benefited my relationships and business. It's a short and powerful book that will change your life.