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Llewellyn Almanacs
Llewellyn's 2003 Magical Almanac - Reviewed by Mike Gleason
Llewellyn's 2003 Wicca Almanac - Reviewed by Mike Gleason
Llewellyn's 2003 Wicca Almanac - Reviewed by Psyche
Llewellyn's 2004 Witchy Day Planner - Reviewed by Mike Gleason
Llewellyn’s 2005 Magical Almanac - Reviewed by Mike Gleason
Llewellyn’s Witches’ Datebook 2005 - Reviewed by Mike Gleason
Llewellyn's 2005 Herbal Almanac - Reviewed by Mike Gleason
Llewellyn's 2005 Witches' Spell-A-Day Almanac - Reviewed by Mike Gleason
| Title: | Llewellyn's 2003 Magical Almanac |
| Publisher: | Llewellyn Worldwide |
| ISBN: | 0-73870072-0 |
| Copyright: | 2003 |
| Reviewer: | Mike Gleason |
| Contact Information: | gleason.mike@verizon.net |
| Category: | Annual |
| Review: | This, Llewellyn's 13th Magical Almanac, is once again notable, not for the information contained in the date pages, although that is interesting, but for the diversity of items which compose the rest of the almanac. Like any good almanac, it contains a hugely diverse offering of incidental writings. It is an annual publication in the same vein as that other famous annual publication of the early 20th Century, "The Equinox" (although it has more user-friendly, folksy feel to it). It contains rituals and basic magickal knowledge, as well as background data and travel features. The one advantage that Llewellyn has over many other publications of this type is the large base of writers at their disposal. There are 41 authors of over 75 articles. The articles are divided into seasonal sections and most of them contain suggestions for further study, from a variety of sources - both print and electronic. If you take the time to browse through these articles (and that is the major reason to buy this volume), you are sure to find: a) New information; b) Unusual insights; or c) Challenging viewpoints. Over the years, this series of books has proved to be one I keep returning to. Along with "The Witches Almanac" it has provided me with inspiration for my own researches, as well as inspiring more than one type of ritual I had never tried before. The "Almanac Section" contains 63 pages about rulership of the day, lunar phases, moon signs, Sabbats, World holidays, Incenses and Colors. Much of this information in available in any Pagan-themed almanac, so in my opinion, this is the least important section of the book. I must say, however, that in line with many of the books I have been reading lately, from a variety of publishers, this book suffers from basic typographic errors such as dropped words, duplicated words, incorrect spacing and, in one case ("The Japanese Festival of Tanabata") failure to include an illustration or diagram referred to in the text. None of these are of earth-shattering importance, but they really shouldn't be happening. |
| Review submitted: | 13 December 2002 |
| Title: | Llewellyn's 2003 Wicca Almanac |
| Publisher: | Llewellyn Worldwide |
| ISBN: | 0-7387-0294-3 |
| Copyright: | 2002 |
| Reviewer: | Mike Gleason |
| Contact Information: | gleason.mike@verizon.net |
| Category: | Annual |
| Review: | Once again Llewellyn has produced a book which will captivate and infuriate. As the editors say in the Introduction, they are trying something new with this book, and they aren’t sure how it will be received. If you are looking for a traditional Witches’ Almanac, you won’t find it here. Instead of bits of arcane lore and traditional recipes, you will find articles on the cutting edge about the present and future of Wicca.. It does contain all the basic almanac information you want and need: moon phases, moon signs, colors and festival data, so you needn’t worry about missing out on that. The topics covered by the contributors in this almanac run the gamut from the mundane (magickal references in pop music and movies) to the more expected (magickal protection in the workplace). Most of the articles cover eight to ten pages and are written in a breezy, enjoyable style. Given the large number of younger people in the Craft today, the topics will be appealing to a large segment of the population. Some of the old-timers may wonder what some of them have to do with Wicca. There are resources listed in this annual publication which I hope will be maintained and updated in each edition (especially the resources for the Pagan clergy). I’ve said this before when reviewing almanacs. It is best NOT to read them straight through. This almanac contains about 25 articles and, in my opinion, the best way to read it is to find a topic that interests you, read that article, and then put the book down for a while. Reading it in small chunks will keep it interesting. If you read it straight through, you may find yourself suffering from information overload. Each month in the almanac section ends with a news item. None of them are earth-shattering, and many will have been missed in the rush of daily news we are all subjected to. At least one item is either horribly out-of-date or contains a major typo, since it refers to an upcoming summit event in 2002. My only major objection to this book was the relatively large number of typographical errors I ran across (about a dozen). But that is a personal bug-a-boo of mine. And, in truth, with about a dozen errors in twenty-five articles, by twenty different authors, that isn’t really a significant factor. I am hoping that this book sells well enough to guarantee a continued existence. I regularly pick up almanacs, and the youthful slant of this one is a welcome change from many that I read annually. |
| Review submitted: | 11 February 2003 |
| Title: | Llewellyn's 2003 Wicca Almanac |
| Editor: | Michael Fallon |
| Publisher: | Llewellyn Worldwide |
| ISBN: | 0738702943 |
| Pages: | 287 (+1) pp. |
| Copyright: | 2003 |
| Reviewer: | Psyche |
| Contact Information: | psyche[at]spiralnature[dot]com |
| Category: | Annual |
| Review: | Many essays will be useful to a variety of audiences. The catchy titles will appeal to younger generation, eg. 'Lifestyles of the Witch and Famous' - a personal favourite, as well as other Wiccan auto/biographies. There are also many useful practical essays as well, such as how to conduct a séance, the best of Pagan magazines today, advice on homeschooling young Wiccans, the best of the Wiccan web (though I'm sad to note that my site is not listed ;). Iincludes chapters on Wiccans in the media, arts, fashion, pagan pilgrimages, travel writing, and current and slightly outdated events ( such as the Jedi census in Australia in 2002). The collection of print and internet resources listed at end of many essays will also prove useful. All the articles are written in a light and easy tone. It also contains a traditional almanac section with instructions on how to use it. The alamac is fairly complete with lunar calendars, moon phases, colours and planetary influences weather fracases and festivals and religious observances from cultures from around the world. This helps to clearly illustrate that Wicca is more than simply a spiritual path, but a way of life. It should do well with the younger market it's aimed at. |
| Review submitted: | 20 February 2003 |
| Title: | Llewellyn's 2004 Witchy Day Planner |
| Publisher: | Llewellyn Worldwide |
| ISBN: | 0-7387-0231-5 |
| Pages: | 168 pages |
| Copyright: | 2003 |
| Reviewer: | Mike Gleason |
| Contact Information: | gleason.mike@verizon.net |
| Category: | Annual |
| Review: | This is one of Llewellyn’s annual offerings. It covers sixteen months (September 2003 to December 2004). This one is designed for the teen market and features lavender highlights on the pages. It is convenient size to toss in your backpack or book bad and has the advantage (in my opinion) of being spiral bound so that it opens flat. Each two-page spread gives you a week at a time and includes all the normal things you have come to expect from Llewellyn (Moon phases, astrological basics) as well as a couple of nice touches - each two-page spread offers either a short spell or tip and a couple of basic priorities. Each day contains a color and activity suggestion, which is a nice touch. It contains a few articles - about a half a dozen, as well as short bio section for the authors of the articles. The articles include some basic common sense ideas for relating to those who are not part of your "Witchy" world, as well as some basic information of the Sabbats and basic magickal advice. These articles are short and to the point, and add to the overall value of the book. The back section contains a list of the dates for the Sabbats, Full Moons, Eclipses, and Planetary Retrogrades. The cover design is "cute," as is the overall layout. There isn’t a whole lot of room for each day, so you will have to keep your notes short. But even allowing for those minor drawbacks, it is well worth the price, if no other reason than the fact that this is one planner that you will always be able to find and use |
| Review submitted: | 19 June 2003 |
| Title: | Llewellyn’s 2005 Magical Almanac |
| Publisher: | Llewellyn Worldwide |
| ISBN: | 0-7387-0138-6 |
| Copyright: | 2004 |
| Pages: | 384 pages |
| Reviewer: | Mike Gleason |
| Contact Information: | gleason.mike@comcast.net |
| Category: | Annual |
| Review: | Thirty-eight authors contributed seventy-nine articles to this volume. Some of the authors are becoming familiar names, others are newcomers. The almanac section occupies the center of the book and contains all the information you would expect Once again the authors have striven for brevity without sacrificing information. And, continuing a trend begun last year, the selection of topics appears to be more geared to semi- to fully-experienced readers. There are articles to appeal to almost anyone, but there appear to be fewer “fluff” pieces. This is not a book to be tossed aside when the next year’s edition is available. With several of these volumes on your bookshelf, you will have a ready reference source, as well as a source of inspiration for further reading – since many of these articles contain source citations and suggestions for further reading. My on-going complain about the quality of editing is justified again. I’m not sure why dropped letters and words aren’t caught more consistently by editors, but they can present difficulties to the reader. Granted, with compilation works, it might be a bit more difficult, but these particular authors have been contributing to other Llewellyn annuals as well, so the reader has a right to expect a higher degree of accountability. |
| Review submitted: | 28 July 2004 |
| Title: | Llewellyn’s Witches’ Datebook 2005 |
| Publisher: | Llewellyn Worldwide |
| ISBN: | 0-7387-0400-7 |
| Copyright: | 2004 |
| Pages: | 145 pages |
| Reviewer: | Mike Gleason |
| Contact Information: | gleason.mike@comcast.net |
| Category: | Annual |
| Review: | This year’s issue of the Datebook contains everything you have come to expect – a list of Full Moons, eclipses, Planetary Retrogrades, and Moon Void-of-Course Data and a short personal phone book, as well as the usual astronomical/astrological data for each day. The inclusion of recipes, illustrations, stories and such on the odd-numbered pages adds some spice to your reading. There isn’t a lot of room for notes, as each day only takes up about 5 square inches – and half of that is often taken up with data already. Of course, this can be an incentive to keep your notes short and to the point. The Datebook starts with a series of articles on everything from scrying to Stone Magic and Autumn Enchantments to cause and Effect. One major plus for this book, as opposed to many of the other almanacs Llewellyn produces annually, is that it is spiral bound, so it is easy to lay it open and expect it to remain open. It is a bit more expensive than most of the almanacs, but I suspect that the spiral binding is responsible for that. |
| Review submitted: | 28 July 2004 |
| Title: | Llewellyn's 2005 Herbal Almanac |
| Publisher: | Llewellyn Worldwide |
| ISBN: | 0-7387-0400-7 |
| Copyright: | 2004 |
| Pages: | 324 pages |
| Reviewer: | Mike Gleason |
| Contact Information: | gleason.mike@comcast.net |
| Category: | Annual |
| Review: | Llewellyn produces a wide range of Almanacs every year. Although many of them are targeted to particular segments of the Pagan population (astrologers, Witches, etc) all of them share some characteristics. They all contain at least basic astrological data, although this particular almanac has the least of all, confined to the last 20 pages The remaining 300 or so pages are devoted to articles covering a wide range of herbal topics, from Japanese incense to the composition of Medieval monastery gardens. The eighteen authors included in this volume bring a surprising depth to the information contained within. They range from some of the better known (and occasionally controversial) authors such as Edain McCoy to some of the lesser known, such as Tammy Sullivan. Since this is a compilation work, there are differing styles and approaches to the topics. Some might find this disconcerting, but I find it refreshing. There is constant variety to look forward to. There are 29 articles, divided among six sections (Growing and Gathering Herbs, Culinary Herbs, Herbs for Health, Herbs for Beauty, Herb Crafts, and Herb History, Myth, and Magic). Like last year's edition, there are the legally required warnings about the use of herbs without consulting a qualified individual, self-diagnosis and treatment. It is sad that out law-suit crazy world requires the inclusion of what should be common sense. There were numerous editing glitches, but I have come to expect those in every book I read, regardless of author or publisher. Fortunately, most of these were simple (word duplication, dropped words, etc.) which do not significantly impact the meaning of the material. Do not plan to sit down and read through this book once. It is designed to be savored over a period of time. I have re-read portions of last year's almanac on several occasions. Take time to enjoy the information here. Take the time to try some of the recipes. Most importantly, take time to let the information become part of you. |
| Review submitted: | 26 July 2004 |
| Title: | Llewellyn's 2005 Witches' Spell-A-Day Almanac |
| Publisher: | Llewellyn Worldwide |
| ISBN: | 0-7387-0400-7 |
| Copyright: | 2004 |
| Pages: | 264 pages |
| Reviewer: | Mike Gleason |
| Contact Information: | gleason.mike@comcast.net |
| Category: | Annual |
| Review: | As with all of Llewellyn's almanacs, this book has the moon phases and basic astrological data for each day of the year. The only "articles" in this series, however, are the pages identifying some of the background for each month as an introduction to those months. It includes an icon guide, so you can translate the symbols which appear at the start of each day. It also includes, as a part of its standard layout, a short list of "Daily Magical Influences," "Lunar Phases," and Astrological Symbols, the Moon's Signs, a two page glossary, and Norse Runes. Like all the books in this particular series of almanacs the emphasis here is on entertainment, as well as magical knowledge. The spells are light in tone as a means of encouraging the reader to make magick a part of daily life. Looking for deep, significant spells and magical facts? Sorry, not in this book. Looking for quick, easy, folk magick remedies, basic recipes, and general occult facts? This is the book for you. On top of that, it is easily affordable, and light enough to ride in your shoulder bag, backpack, or briefcase without inconvenience. Are there better almanacs out there? Certainly. But this one contains enough inspirational details, and enough entertainment to make it worth the purchase price. On a lighter note, if you leave this book lying on your coffee table, you can count on raised eyebrows (at the very least) when your non-Craft friends and family drop by. It is guaranteed to be an ice-breaker and a conversation starter. There is room at the end of each day's entry for notes (if you are one of those barbarians who write in books). I am still not fond, after three years, of the way the pages are laid out, but obviously, I am in a minority. I understand why it is the way it is, but I still don't like it personally. There are minor editing glitches in this volume, and I'm not particularly happy with Stephanie Rose Bird's references to deities of the Yoruba peoples as "angelic spirits." That is kind of like referring to Jesus or Allah as angelic spirits. Take the time to browse through this book when you get it home. Although there are certain time-specific spells and rituals there are numerous types of protective spells and rituals, for example, scattered throughout the year. You might try combining some of them for your own use, or to spark your own creativity. While we're on the subject of browsing through the almanac, don't forget to flip through last year's edition for ideas you may have passed over at the time. These books can serve for inspiration long after they are "outdated". This year's edition has fewer no-spell days than I have seen in the past, but it still includes some extra tidbits that make for interesting reading. It is a fun book, with lots of simple, inspirational ideas, and, at $7.95, inexpensive enough to make an easy addition to your library. |
| Review submitted: | 12 July 2004 |
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