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Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Book Review: Seasons of Moon and Flame by Danielle Dulsky

book review, witchcraft, pagan, dulsky, seasons of moon and flame, hedgewitch, folklore, hag, witchy

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I was provided a copy of this book for an honest review.

Dulsky has done it again! Back in 2018, I reviewed her book The Holy Wild, which was a wonderful, empowering book about reawakening the divine feminine within each of this. Dulsky's latest book, Seasons of Moon and Flame: The Wild Dreamer's Epic Journey of Becoming adds to her first book using the thirteen moon cycles and four seasons to awaken the witch in all of us.

Each season is associated with a hag archetype, a grandmother-like figure that has a series of lessons to teach us using the seasons and moon phases within those seasons to direct the learning. The book begins with Spring, the Garden Hag, followed by Summer's Desert Hag, Autumn's Sea Hag, and ending with Winter's Mountain Hag. Each season, with the exception of Autumn, covers three full moon cycles, with stories, prayers, spells, rituals, and journaling exercises for each moon phase of the cycle. At the end of the book, Dulsky included an appendix that summarizes the hag stories, spells and rituals, and even unpacks each of the lessons with a series of questions. I absolutely loved that this was included in the book. This makes it exceptionally easy to find what you are looking for at any time and allows you to glance at the lessons prior to reading the entire chapter. This is one of the best tools in this entire book, one I hope authors in the future will use.

The book is wonderfully poetic and inclusive. While she touted her book The Holy Wild as inclusive, I feel that Seasons of Moon and Flame truly is. Not only does she provide rituals and spells for the solitary witch, but for families, covens, and groups as well. Furthermore, the hag stories contain a number of non-cis-gendered individuals, with correct pronoun usage. I applaud her for making the stories relevant to all witches, no matter our backgrounds. And it is these stories that I absolutely loved the most. Each moon cycle is accompanied by a hag story, a modern folktale that teaches a lesson. They are written as if the hag is telling the story directly to you, so you can envision yourself making the journey outlined in the book. As a hedgewitch and folklore enthusiast, the modern folktales were my absolute favorite. Dulsky is a gifted storyteller with wisdom beyond her years. My favorite story was the very last one for winter, telling the tale of a young witch's transformation as she journey's to meet Baba Yaga. I think this story resonated so much with me because I have had a similar experience while hedge riding. This story was real for me, as I am sure many of the stories will be for people around the world. These were pulled from the collective unconscious; there is no doubt in my mind.

Despite starting in the Spring and ending with Winter, the book can be read in any order. Yes, there are references to earlier sections, but this doesn't detract from or hinder the lessons being learned each season. I absolutely love that the book can be used however the reader deems fit and tailored to your individual needs. If you are looking to do some truly transformative work this year, especially in light of everything going on in the world, this is the perfect companion to your journey. It's powerful in a way the world needs right now, encouraging readers to take control of their life while honoring the Earth and all Her children.

Seasons of Moon and Flame: The Wild Dreamer's Epic Journey of Becoming is available now. I encourage each and every one of you to become a wild dreamer this year. 2020 is a year of transformation and this book is here to guide you on that journey.



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2 comments :

  1. Very true. 2020 really is proving to be a year of transformation on a level and to a scale that few could ever have predicted. I know it might just be my witchy soul at work, but I personally hope that when all is said and done, and this devastating pandemic is over, some of the transformations that will have occurred (will) pertain to more people striving to live in tune with the seasons and moon cycles to a greater degree. And by the same token, that nature reclaims a more prominent place in a larger number of peoples' hearts and lives again.

    This books sounds hugely appealing to me - not the least because it's heavily seasonally and esbat-ly focused (two areas that are cornerstones of my life and practice alike). Thank you for a stellar review and another title that I'm absolutely itching to read asap.

    Sunny April blessings of health & wellness around the clock,
    Autumn Zenith 🎃 Witchcrafted Life

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    Replies
    1. I am hoping the same. Things really need to change all around. Nature is trying to teach us all a lesson right now; I am hoping we listen.

      I think you would enjoy this book as well. Honestly, Dulsky reminds me of you with her writing style. I think she would speak to your soul.

      Hope the snow is clearing off where you are and that you and yours are doing well. Keeping you both in my thoughts. :)

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