Titania's Magical Compendium: Spells and Rituals to Bring a Little Magic Into Your Life

I think the other review that said that this is a good book was a really good review and I totally agree, I really like this book and it's a keeper!

I was surprised to see this excellent book receive only one star from a reviewer - so much so that I decided to review it as well. That review was actually very helpful in pointing out that if you are a fan of Titania Hardie, you probably own her other books already (and in that case, this one is probably not for you.) However, if you are new to Titania Hardie's magic, or you skimmed her other books and couldn't decide which one to buy, (I, for one, found it difficult to decide between love, health, peace, wealth, and all the other joys of life), then this IS the one for you. It's a compendium, after all, which means it has a bit of everything...perfect for those who want a little of it all. This beautiful small-coffee-table-sized book is in shades of purple, black, and grey, with Sarah Morris's excellent photography and images that are a good part of what makes Titania's books such a pleasure to read and own. Compared to Titania's other super-colorful books, it's a little darker, but that's probably because of the glossy black pages that divide the sections (gorgeous, mysterious, and prone to showing grubby fingerprints.) The pictures in the sections are super-colorful, though - I don't intend to imply that it's B & W. The spells and rituals within are organized according to the moon-cycles. One of its strengths is the way that it ties magic to nature. You receive a strong sense of the passing of the seasons, the turning of the wheel, and your place within the whole. In much of modern life, we no longer have the sense of place that we had formerly - no feast days, no church or temple bells, no history that speaks to us of who we were, are, and will be. I love this book because everything in it is so firmly grounded - it gives a context for each spell and a time to address every need. In short, it is admirably suited to the regular practice of magic. There are many different methods and currents within magic, but Titania really excels in hers. Her knowledge of plant-based healing makes many of the spells in this compendium a true feast for the senses, nourishing physically and psychically. "Wow, that really worked!" is what I commonly hear when I follow her advice in my own practice. Even more importantly, Titania's work inspired me to introduce a magical, beautiful, or healing element in everything I do. It made magic a regular part of my life. Thank you for reading my review!