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Read Any Good Banned Books Lately?
Last month the American Library Association celebrated the 25th anniversary of Banned Books Week, traditionally held in the last week of September. While the books aren't actually banned, the ALA keeps track of how many challenges (formal, written complaints) are filed against certain books by people who believe they should be removed from a library's or a school's shelves. And surprise, surprise, the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling is number one among the most challenged books of the 21st century thus far. As they say on the ALA website, "The series drew complaints from parents and others who believe the books promote witchcraft to children." Never mind that it's fiction; if a book glamorizes witchcraft (fake or not) rather than perpetuate the nasty green, evil, warty witch stereotype, then it must be a mass media conspiracy to turn innocent Christian youth against their parents and the Church. Harry Potter is obviously not about true witchcraft or the young religion called Wicca; it's a children's story where one can leap the bounds of the imagination on a Nimbus 2000 broomstick. (And, here in Muggle world, it's also synonymous with rampant commercialism - said Nimbus 2000 can be bought in real-world stores, which itself has caused an uproar among parents because it vibrates!) Well, let's get back on track: let's talk about real witchcraft for real people. This month we are re-releasing the classic True Magick by Amber K. The original book has been around since 1990 and has led countless real world witches down the path of knowledge, spellcrafting, energy, ethics, tools, rituals and everything else a true witch needs to know. The book has now been updated with six new chapters, recommended reading, and more than 100 exercises. Now more than ever, it's a must-have book for beginners who believe in the world of Harry Potter about as much as they believe in Santa Claus. Amazingly enough (I'm almost disappointed), none of Llewellyn's books are listed among the challenged books. Besides Harry Potter, there aren't many books that garner complaints for promoting occult themes, which is a good sign; far more often the complaints are the same things that will get a movie rated R, such as violence, offensive language, sexually explicit material, and so forth. However, take a look at the 100 most challenged books of the 1990s and you'll be shocked how many are simply sexual education books. The fact that stocking sex ed books in libraries still enrages some people blows my mind, yet it shows no sign of abating; even this year a sex ed book was in the top ten. And for a nice dose of the double standard, note that What's Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters is number 40 on the list, while its male counterpart What's Happening to my Body? Book for Boys is farther down at number 61. Guess it's not as offensive for boys to learn about sex ed as girls, huh? Well here at Llewellyn we're proud to have a book that takes on sexual issues, body image and self-love head-on - and it incorporates magick as part of the journey. That book is Sexy Witch by LaSara FireFox. Don't let the title fool you - this is not a book about learning how to look sexy and use spells to snag a lover. As Nina Hartley, adult film actress, writes in the foreword, "When someone is ready to tackle her personal issues about sex, her body, power, pleasure, spirit, and self-actuation, this is the book to pick up. Step by step, week by week, she takes the reader through what she must do to reclaim her body and to feel confidence in it." So whether it's true magick or being true to your sexuality, we've got you covered. Exercise your rights to read books like these freely, with no interference from people who'd like to inflict their opinions on the masses! (And with winter on the way, you're going to want a few books at home to curl up with anyway.) Have a wonderful and magical Samhain. I've included an article, a book excerpt, and some great Samhain books (focusing on divination and contact with the dead) with a Witchy Update discount to get you in the mood!
—Elysia Gallo
An excerpt from the article
Our modern celebration of Halloween, with its spooky decorations and candy-munching kids, is a long way from the ancient Celtic holiday known as Samhain. Generally agreed by historians to be the origin of our Halloween tradition, Samhain marked the beginning of the winter season and the time to slaughter livestock for the meat that would help people survive the long, cold winter. The Celts believed that on Samhain the veil between the worlds was easily crossed by the spirits of their ancestors. |
Great Books on Sale through
November 1! Click for a complete list of sale items  Halloween By Silver RavenWolf ISBN: 1-56718-719-6 Price:  Scrying for Beginners By Donald Tyson ISBN: 1-56718-746-3 Price:  Celtic Tree Mysteries By Steve Blamires ISBN: 1-56718-070-1 Price:  Tarot for the Green Witch By Ann Moura ISBN: 0-7387-0288-9 Price:  Divination for Beginners By Scott Cunningham ISBN: 0-7387-0384-2 Price:  Speak with the Dead By Konstantinos ISBN: 0-7387-0522-5 Price: |
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An excerpt from Wiccan Beliefs & Practices: With Rituals for Solitaries & Covens
by Gary Cantrell
Samhain (pronounced sow-en) occurs on October 31 and means "summer's end" in Celtic. This is the end of autumn and the beginning of winter. In the ancient dual division of the year, summer ran from Beltain to Samhain, and winter ran from Samhain to Beltain. Samhain is thus the Celtic New Year Sabbat and is a God-dominated holiday. Now is the time for possible travel and communication between the worlds of the living and the dead, and between those who are here now and those who have gone into Summerland. The two themes of celebrating the dead and attempting to see into the future are inter-mixed at Samhain just as they are in many modern New Year's Eve celebrations. As a feast of the dead, it was believed the dead could, if they wished, return to the land of the living for this one night to celebrate with their family, tribe or clan. Extra places are set at the table and food is set out for anybody who died that year.
It is also traditional to leave an offering of food or drink at the doorstep on this night to refresh those souls who may wander between the two worlds. This is the origin of our Western holiday of Halloween, with its attendant offerings of treats to young "ghosts and goblins" going door to door. Carved turnips were the original jack-o'-lanterns and were carried by Celtic travelers going from feast to feast on Samhain night to dissuade any wandering spirits from interfering. This symbol continues today in our use of carved and illuminated pumpkins. The Samhain Sabbat celebrates the eternal cycle of reincarnation and marks the beginning of the Celtic winter. The old God dies tonight to be reborn at Yule, and the Wheel of the Year will continue. Samhain is not totally a somber Sabbat; it is also a time of games and frivolity. Harmless and mischievous pranks can be performed and blamed on the spirits of fun, while feasting from the fall harvest and final slaughter of the herds for meat can result in lavish Samhain ritual meals. With such an important holiday, Pagans might hold two distinct celebrations--a large Halloween party for non-Craft friends, often held on the previous weekend, and a Coven ritual held on Halloween night itself, which is done late enough so as not to be interrupted by trick-or-treaters. If the rituals are performed properly, there is often a feeling of invisible friends taking part in the rites. Fall fruits such as apples, harvest foods of gourds and melons, and fall grains or nuts are typical Samhain decorations. The altar candle is usually either orange or brown. |
Cool Links
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Author Events
Meet Christopher Penczak, author of The Mystic Foundation, at several appearances across this Fall! Date: October 20, 2006 Time: 7 - 9:30 pm (Free lecture and booksigning at 7 pm, workshop at 8:15 pm for $20-$25.) Event Location: Transitions Bookplace, 1000 West North Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622. 312-951-7323 Date: October 21-22, 2006 Time: 10 am - 6 pm Event Location: Alchemy Arts Weekend Witchcraft Intensive, 123 West Bryn Mawr, Chicago, IL 60660. 800-948-2437. $150 per person. Date: November 28, 2006 Time: 7 to 9 pm Event Location: Borders Books and Music, 281 Daniel Webster Highway, Nashua, NH 03060. 603-888-9300. Date: October 27-29, 2006 Event Location: The International Real Witches Ball 2006, The Crown Plaza, 33 Nationwide Blvd, Columbus, OH 43215.
Meet Ann Moura, author of Grimoire for the Green Witch, at the GreenSong Grove Samhain Festival
Date: October 20 - 22, 2006 Event Location: GreenSong Grove, Boyd Hill Nature Park, 2900 31st Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33781. Date: October 27-29, 2006 Event Location: The International Real Witches Ball 2006, The Crown Plaza, 33 Nationwide Blvd, Columbus, OH 43215. 
Ellen Dugan, author of Herb Magic for Beginners, will hold the following appearances this fall: Date: October 21, 2006 Time: Book Signing 10 am - 12 pm, Tarot Readings 1 - 5pm, Practical Magick Workshop 7:30 - 9:30 pm. Event Location: Crone's Cupboard, 712 North Orchard, Boise, ID 83706. 208-333-0831. Date: October 22, 2006 Time: Author Chat and Breakfast at 9:30 - 11:30 am Event Location: Crone's Cupboard, 712 North Orchard, Boise, ID 83706. 208-333-0831. |
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