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A review by corallydeer
Mabon: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for the Autumn Equinox by Diana Rajchel
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
Mabon by Diana Rajchel is a pretty decent beginner's look at the season, equinox, 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. I do wish the book expanded a bit in the history and lore into non-Eurocentric history, however, since it focused very heavily on not even just Europe but Western Europe in particular (with a bit of a dabble into Poland).
I also think it's worth noting that this book includes a Hoodoo honey jar and mojo bag in its spellwork section with no in-depth discussion of Hoodoo, its history, etc, and no clear tie for the author to Hoodoo practices. It also recommends readers get smudge sticks in at least one of its rituals, again with no discussion (at all this time) 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 includes a Hoodoo honey jar and mojo bag in its spellwork section with no in-depth discussion of Hoodoo, its history, etc, and no clear tie for the author to Hoodoo practices. It also recommends readers get smudge sticks in at least one of its rituals, again with no discussion (at all this time) 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 includes a Hoodoo honey jar and mojo bag in its spellwork section with no in-depth discussion of Hoodoo, its history, etc, and no clear tie for the author to Hoodoo practices. It also recommends readers get smudge sticks in at least one of its rituals, again with no discussion (at all this time) of smudging's connection and sacredness to American Indigenous culture or any kind of tie that the author might have to that culture)