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A review by corallydeer
Samhain: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for Halloween by Diana Rajchel
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Samhain by Diana Rajchel is a pretty decent beginner's look at the season, cross-quarter day, and holiday. It covers a wide variety of related lore and history, workings, recipes, and more and is probably something I'd consider a decent resource for most beginners in witchcraft and Paganism. The book did a decent job as far as looking at how a variety of cultures celebrate this time of year, although I wish it explored beyond Mexico and at least mentioned whether any other non-Eurocentric areas and cultures also have any celebrations this time of year.
I also think it's worth noting that this book conflates smudging and smoke cleansing as one and the same, and includes the word "smudge" and the use of "smudge sticks" in a few spells, rituals, etc with no discussion of smudging's connection and sacredness to American Indigenous culture or any kind of tie that the author might have to that culture. Thankfully, all of the instances of potential appropriation are easy to skip over or edit out for something more relevant to a personal practice.
I also think it's worth noting that this book conflates smudging and smoke cleansing as one and the same, and includes the word "smudge" and the use of "smudge sticks" in a few spells, rituals, etc with no discussion of smudging's connection and sacredness to American Indigenous culture or any kind of tie that the author might have to that culture. Thankfully, all of the instances of potential appropriation are easy to skip over or edit out for something more relevant to a personal practice.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cultural appropriation
Cultural Appropriation (this book conflates smudging and smoke cleansing as one and the same, and includes the word "smudge" and the use of "smudge sticks" in a few spells, rituals, etc with no discussion of smudging's connection and sacredness to American Indigenous culture or any kind of tie that the author might have to that culture)