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lenastockton's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0
lsparrow's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book of the pagan year - moving through the seasons. Focused on living in line with the seasons. Looks at changes in nature, gardening and household tasks, rituals and celebrations, foraging and crafting.
ebb_and_flow's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
shcleveland's review against another edition
4.0
It seems to me that Seasons of a Magical Life is a book that you're either going to enjoy, or greatly dislike. Whether or not you love it or hate it will depend primarily on two things: what you want from the book and your feelings around essay collections.
The structure of the book is interesting. It is divided into four sections: a foundational section; the waxing year; the waning year; and a wrap-up section. The chapters in the center portions focus on a different wedges of the Wheel. Each contains a "letter from the forest-farm" followed by sections on skills to hone during the season, activities to enjoy with friends and family, chores that need doing, etc. It can feel slightly disjointed and may not be to everyone's taste. Once I got used to the rhythm of the writing and the format of the book, I found it enjoyable.
Numerous parts of Ballard's "letters" resonated with me. Although, as a different kind of pagan living in a different place, I find much of it requires adaptation for my lifestyle and my practice. Still, I found much value in the little snippets of life by the wheel in the author's little piece of paradise. I also enjoyed the discussion of an animist worldview and re-enchanting the world around us.
That said, if you're looking for step-by-step instructions on how to celebrate the Wheel of the Year or specific festivals, I think you'll be disappointed. This book focuses more on the philosophy of living with the seasonal shifts than it does set instructions. There are no rituals or spells to mimic, but definitely some practical advice on gardening and the baking of bread. Personally, I intend to try the furniture polish recipe!
All in all, it was an enjoyable book that gave me things to mull over in the coming days and weeks.
The structure of the book is interesting. It is divided into four sections: a foundational section; the waxing year; the waning year; and a wrap-up section. The chapters in the center portions focus on a different wedges of the Wheel. Each contains a "letter from the forest-farm" followed by sections on skills to hone during the season, activities to enjoy with friends and family, chores that need doing, etc. It can feel slightly disjointed and may not be to everyone's taste. Once I got used to the rhythm of the writing and the format of the book, I found it enjoyable.
Numerous parts of Ballard's "letters" resonated with me. Although, as a different kind of pagan living in a different place, I find much of it requires adaptation for my lifestyle and my practice. Still, I found much value in the little snippets of life by the wheel in the author's little piece of paradise. I also enjoyed the discussion of an animist worldview and re-enchanting the world around us.
That said, if you're looking for step-by-step instructions on how to celebrate the Wheel of the Year or specific festivals, I think you'll be disappointed. This book focuses more on the philosophy of living with the seasonal shifts than it does set instructions. There are no rituals or spells to mimic, but definitely some practical advice on gardening and the baking of bread. Personally, I intend to try the furniture polish recipe!
All in all, it was an enjoyable book that gave me things to mull over in the coming days and weeks.
erynlasbelin's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
2.5
I was super excited about this book when I first saw it, especially because the author is from my region of the world! Unfortunately, it didn't end up being what I was looking for.
I think the first chapter on Animism, Mutual Aid, and Permaculture was the strongest. We were discussing important and interesting concepts and linking them together as part of a pagan lifestyle - a fascinating beginning! That was the high point for me, though.
For whatever reason, books claiming to be about the Wheel of the Year tend to be more focused on the author's personal beliefs and lifestyle than an exploration of the history behind each celebration. It's not that the more personal material isn't interesting - it's just that, if you're looking for something academic or highly researched, lengthy discussions about housekeeping are guaranteed to disappoint. I wish these books would be promoted differently.
It's really weird to read this book after reading Sharon Blackie - so much of the re-enchantment chapter specifically is rehashing Blackie's work from a pagan perspective. It's interesting that Ballard references the "magical thinking" line from The Enchanted Life; that book is obviously foundational to this line of thinking, yet this necessarily leans into the "woo-woo" that Blackie frowns upon in that book. For a book that helps reorient your perspective on life, I would probably recommend going straight to The Enchanted Life.
My overall complaint is that Seasons of a Magical Life feels like a series of blog posts rather than a book. Ballard skims the top level of many different subjects, but after that first chapter, she never really dives into them. I lost track of how many times she suggested looking up more information or instructions about something she mentioned online. Doing more research is great, but when I pick up a book, I expect it to cover its own topics within the text, citing sources when appropriate. This sort of format works much better when you're already online and the author is linking you to another page.
I'm also baffled by the inclusion of the glossary, which defines such terms as boundaries ("the lines that delineate a particular space; the emotional boundaries that humans set around their personal and energetic space"), hearing ("the act of observing sound, whether birdsong or music, human speech or waterfall; a spiritual act of devotion"), and home ("a place that can be physical, imaginary, or symbolic in which one may dwell in peace and comfort"). Why? Glossaries are for terms that readers may not be familiar with. There was very little here that any reader may not already know, and any of those terms could've been explained in the body of the book.
Seasons of a Magical Life has the gentle vibe of sitting down to chat with a friend over a cup of tea, so if that's what you're looking for, you will likely enjoy this. It offers a glimpse into life on an Appalachian homestead and a peek at the author's philosophies. If you're searching for something academic, historical, or highly detailed, this probably won't do it for you.
catsandb00ks's review against another edition
informative
4.75
This was a really nice guide to Witchcraft in the small and mundane. It was a really nice start to understanding how to better practice with the seasons as well as gives you a good amount of practices to try. I liked how in depth the book goes into actually working with your hands to see the fruits of your labor.