Llewellyn's Magical Almanac

Definitely worth having even though 2003 is long gone! A great addition to any collection.0

All of the Llewellyn almanacs are a valuable addition to the witch library. Regardless of whether or not it is a current issue, the information inside is timeless and valuable.

This little almanac is a gem. The stories are entertaining and thought-provoking, and the spells are easy. It's great to have as a reference even when the year is over, or just to keep as a fun book to read.

A perennial favorite among all types of practitioners, Llewellyn's 2003 Magical Almanac is once again chock full of enlightening and instructive information. Among the time-tested daily listings for lunar phases, moon signs and festivals, lies a diverse and always enjoyable collection of practical information, divination techniques, myths, legends and other tidbits of wisdom conveniently organized by season.There are a wide variety of topics available to the reader, from the history of the Jersey Devil to an article on "How to Make Magic Wands". One very instructive article, which demonstrates the usefulness of the almanac, "The Tools of the Witch" by Anna Franklin, outlines the use of various implements and ritual items common to the practice of witchcraft. The article serves not only as a concise review for seasoned witches but is also quite helpful for beginners to the craft.The artwork throughout the almanac is fanciful as usual and every care has been taken to match up the art with the various themes and topics, creating nicely decorated pages and enhancing one's reading experience. The lovely art combined with consistently enjoyable and insightful articles year after year makes one reluctant to part with past issues. (I have several!) Llewellyn's 2003 Magical Almanac has all the elements of a good friend; advice, observations, humor and intelligence - all wrapped up into one handy little book! Daria Heil

The 2003 edition of the Llewellyn Magical Almanac maintains the tradition of excellence we have come to expect from this useful, inspirational, entertaining and insightful tool. The actual Almanac section that contains calendar, time changes, lunar phases, moon signs, full moons, Sabbats, world holidays, incense and color of the day is useful for all manner of magical planning, as ever. This year's edition is divided into four seasonal sections with a host of informative and entertaining articles written by members of the pagan community, some quite well known like Ed Fitch, Edain McCoy, and deTraci Regula, and others perhaps not so well known but fully experienced and versed in pagan practice and tradition like Magenta Griffith and Jim Weaver, both excellent writers and scholars, non pareil. This satisfyingly thick edition contains 80 articles and numerous characteristic black and white drawings and features a beautiful cover illustration of the Green Man and four Celtic-styled drawings symbolic of the four elements. A broad range of topics including various spells, rituals, meditations, folklore, recipes and craft ideas make this book useful year after year and not only in 2003. Learn about using a magical intermediary or playing card divination in the Winter Section. Stir up some love magic or discover fairies of the animals in Spring. Summer delivers the folklore of roses as well as the magic of dandelions. Ever hear of Buffy, Summer Goddess of the Gym? Check her out here. Brush up on some feline folklore in the Fall, do a toe-ring charging spell, learn meal blessings, and meet up with Caloria, Fall Goddess of Potluck! Whether, experienced pagan or a curious new-comer this book is filled with useful information and fun facts that you are sure to find enjoyable.

Guess what? You CAN judge a book by its cover. At least you can say that about Llewellyn's 2003 Magical Almanac. It reminds me why I like books. Llewellyn is always thrilling our senses with texture. It actually feels good just to touch the cover and run your hand over the lines of the Green Man while admiring the beautiful colors and Celtic artwork. I have passed over almanacs in the past, because I had assumed all almanacs were like the Farmer's Almanac. I was afraid it would be filled with symbols too small and confusing to understand. I thought almanacs were only good for reading on specific days. These things are not true with this title! Granted, there is an almanac section, but it only fills up about 1/6 of the book and gives information on time changes, lunar phases, color and incense of the day, and world holidays such as Tuesday January 14th, the French "Feast of the Ass." (What would Martha Stewart prepare for such a feast?!) This magical almanac is filled with stories and lore. Learn about the Green Man and his ways, the Jersey Devil, Eucalypta Evergreening, the Magic of Dandelions, and Sacred Sites of North America. This is the book you'll want to keep with you while waiting for an appointment, traveling, or for a quick escape on your work break.