Book Review: Alchemy and Mysticism: The Hermetic Museum

Alexander Roob, Alchemy and Mysticism: The Hermetic Museum. Koln, Germany: Taschen, 2023. ISBN: 97803836549363. 

Genre: hermeticism, art

Subgenre: mysticism, esoterica

Format: small hardcover

Source: Borrowed from our daughter who owns it  

 

This volume is part of Taschen's Bibliotheca Universalis series. The book is a collection of art dealing in magic, alchemy, mysticism, and other esoterica from the Middle Ages to the Romantic era. The book is arranged in five major parts: 

• Introduction.
• Macrocosm.
• Opus Magnum.
• Microcosm.
• Rotation. 

After the introduction, each section has thematic subsections. The book includes a small select bibliography at the end on the Hermetic art of illustration. The bibliography lists 12 works. 

The strength of the book is in the art. The illustrations are very good and at times visually stunning. This is more a book to read and browse. I read it through in part out of curiosity and to learn, plus to write this review. The art does have informative captions. Some of the text can be a bit dense at times. The book is not exactly light reading, but if the topic interests you it is worth reading. Note that the text is more thematic rather than sequential narrative. 

Taschen always puts out beautiful books, and this one is a good example. At 573 pages you get a lot of value overall and plenty of art. The book measures about 8 inches by 6 inches. The art is on the small side, so it may not be easy to appreciate all of the details. I imagine a larger coffee table sized book would be huge. At this size, the book is a good size for your book shelf and to carry. 

If you are interested in esoterica, history, and/or art, this can be a book for you. Hermetic practitioners may want to have it in their collections. This is a book I'd recommend for public and academic libraries, especially libraries with strong art collections. 

Overall, I really like this one even if it is not always an easy read. 

4 out of 5 stars. 

 

Book qualifies for the following 2025 Reading Challenge: 

 

 

Book Review: The Ferengi Rules of Acquisition

Quark, as told to Ira Steven Behr, The Ferengi Rules of Acquisition. New York: Pocket Books, 1995. ISBN: 0671529366. 

Genre: Star Trek, tips and advice

Subgenre: media tie-in, humor

Format: e-book

Source: I own this one 

 

If you are a fan of Star Trek, specifically Deep Space Nine, I am sure you have heard barkeep and entrepreneur Quark quote the rules of acquisition at various times. You may have wondered if there was more, and here we are. Quark has decided to share this powerful set of rules with a little help from Ira Steven Behr. Note that Quark mentions there are 285 rules; he only includes 70 in this book. Still, that is more than enough for most of us to learn and apply.

Humor aside, this is a very basic book. We get an introduction, "A few words from Quark," followed by the numbered rules. The rules are short statements, easy to memorize, and Quark does suggest you memorize them. Still, you only get the rules. There are no explanations nor interpretations. 

Overall, this is a short book with little substance. It is amusing, and some of the rules may provide food for thought. In the end, this is a quick, easy read that you may prefer to borrow unless you are a hardcore fan. I liked it, but it is no big deal. 

3 out of 5 stars, mainly because I like DS 9 as a whole.  

 

This book qualifies for the following 2025 reading challenge: 

 

 

Book Review: Eerie Archives, Volume 4

Various authors, Eerie Archives, Volume 4. Milwaukie, OR: Dark Horse Books, 2024. ISBN: 9781506736228. 

Genre: horror

Subgenre: comics

Format: trade paperback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington (KY) Public Library 

 

The series continues to be a good and entertaining read. This volume features issues 16-22 of Eerie Magazine. Some of the authors and artists featured include Archie Goodwin, Frank Frazetta, Al Williamson, and Steve Ditko. The variety in art styles is a good reason to read this volume and the series. This volume features an interview with Al Williamson where he discusses his work for EC Comics,  Warren Publishing, and Archie Goodwin.

Some of my favorite stories in this volume include: 

• "Dracula's Guest," an adaptation of a Bram Stoker story.
• "The Final Solution."
• "The Death of Halpin Frayser," an adaptation of an Ambrose Bierce tale. 
• "Side show," about a group of carnival side show performers and a murder mystery. This one offers a solid twist at the end. 

The quality of the tales overall in this volume is a bit inconsistent compared to previous volumes, but there are still plenty of good tales to keep you reading. I always enjoy the literary adaptations. I also enjoy the twists at the end. The best stories in this series usually deliver that twist or surprise at the end that stays with you after reading. 

This continues to be a good series overall. I do recommend it for libraries with graphic novel and comics collections. It makes for good Halloween reading, but you can read it any time. Overall, I really liked it, and I'll keep reading the series down the road. 

4 out of 5 stars. 

This book qualifies for the following 2025 Reading Challenge: 

 

Holiday Post 2025: Books and reading

Welcome to my third holiday post for 2025. 

 

In case you missed them, here is the first post looking at  "Traditions, Manners, and Miscellany" and the second post looking at "Gifts, strange things, and other shopping." 

 

Today I am looking at books and reading. I will look at some book lists, and see if there are any books I may have read and/or any books I would like to read down the road. If I read a book and reviewed it, I will add a link to the review so you can check it out as well. If I mention a book for my TBR list, I will include a WorldCat link so you can find it in a library near you. I will also add any other stories about reading during the holidays season as I find them. 

Even though I track a pretty broad range of sources on my feed reader, I know that I miss some things. Doing this post allows me to get an idea of what is out there that I may not have seen, and maybe it may also be of interest to my four readers.  

 

Big lists

  

This is what the title says: the big lists, you know, the ones everybody looks at and usually get covered in the media from the legacy media to every other book writer. I usually include these to remind myself of what other media thought were the big book deals of the year. I may or not have read anything from the big lists since I tend to read other things, but one never knows. Let's have a look in no particular order. 

• Amazon's best books of 2025. Like them or hate them, one has to acknowledge the outsized influence that the Big A has on books, reading, and publishing. Their page has lists in various categories such as a Top 20, their editors' picks, and lists by categories. I can say I have not read anything from their Top 20 selections, and I am at peace with that. 
• Barnes and Noble is not as big as they used to be, but still big enough to look at their 2025 best books list. They also offer lists in various categories, and to be honest, they offer more categories than the Big A.   

 

 Lists from Newspapers, Magazines, Periodicals, and other Websites

  

This is a look at print and online media ranging from large and popular publications to smaller ones. It is a very selective sampling of what is out there, and for the most part these are general lists. 

• Time Magazine has their 100 must-read books of 2025,  which odds are good meant I did not read a single one in 2025 because I rarely read must-read books. After looking at the list, sure enough, I have not read a single one. However, there are two books on the list I have on my current TBR( to be read) list: The Buffalo Hunter Hunter and The Martians. 
• The New York Times has a list of 10 best for the year. To be honest, compared to other lists, this one seems a bit measly. 
• The Associated Press has their must-reads of 2025. It has a blend of fiction and nonfiction, and for the most part fairly predictable. Still, from their list, Careless People by Sarah-Wynn Williams, the whistleblowing account of a former Facebook worker, may be the one for the TBR here. Although to be honest I am not sure I want to read yet another book on the malfeasance and corruption running rampant in social media and technology companies. I may need to order it for our library though. 
• I am sure every other librarian, including me, looks at Publishers Weekly best books lists, and here is the one for 2025.   The Buffalo Hunter Hunter made this list too; it made quite a few end of year lists, and from what I hear it is well deserved. Aside from that, nothing really catches my eye from this list. 
• Here is Esquire's list of 35 best books for 2025.  
• From their list, I will say Jane Austen is not on my usual reading horizon. I had to read some of her works as an English major, and that was more than enough for me. However, the book Jane Austen's Bookshelf by Rebecca Romney, which is about a book collector seeking the women writers that had an influence on Austen does sound interesting. I tend to like books about the book trade, antiquarian books, and history of books, so I am adding Romney's book to my TBR list.
• Yes, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter made this list too.
•  Colossal offers their list of favorites for 2025. Most if not all on their list I had not seen before, and some they describe as whimsical. An example of whimsical would be the book Fresh Sets: Contemporary Nail Art from Around the World. That book shows once again that you can really find a book on just about any topic. On a side note, on checking Worldcat, for my location, I see at least two libraries in Kentucky already have it, so I may consider requesting it on Interlibrary Loan. 
• Here is the list of best from Foreign Affairs. These are selected by their editors and reviewers. If you are a bit more into politics and current affairs, some of the books here may be for you.
• The Kyiv Independent offers a list of Ukraine-related books for the year, timely given current events at the moment.  
• Libby, the library service, also has a list of best books for 2025. If you have a library card in the United States, make sure you check to see if you library uses Libby for ebooks, audiobooks, and other media. I certainly recommend it both as a librarian and as a reader. 

 

 Lists by genres 

  

These are lists for specific genres and formats. Again, they are not listed in any particular order.  

• Literary Hub lists their best audiobooks for 2025.  I do not listen to audiobooks very much, but I do enjoy having someone read a book to me once in a while. For audiobooks, I tend to favor nonfiction as it feels easier to follow and to interrupt if I have to pause listening. From their list, Alton Brown's Food for Thought: Essays and Ruminations is the one catching my attention for the TBR list now. 
• Want more audiobooks? LibroFm has a list too.  
• Literary Hub also has a list of 100 notable books from small presses. For me, one of the positive things to come out of my (selective) publishers' boycott is discovering and reading more books from small and independent presses. Also note that Lit Hub's list serves as a counter to the New York Times 100 notable books list for the year. Most of the books on the list seem to be literary fiction or creative nonfiction, but there are one or two other genres that may be of interest. From the list: 
• Costs of Living: A Whisper House Press Horror Anthology sounds interesting. I am trying to read a bit more horror these days, so I am always looking for good anthologies as I find short stories a bit easier to read lately. 
• Speaking of horror, also adding  Dead Red and Razor, a novella, to the TBR list.
• In nonfiction, The Sound of Exile: European Jewish Refugees in Shanghai 1938-1941 may be one I need to order for our library.
•  From CrimeReads:
• List of best books in crime fiction, mysteries, and thrillers.  
• Their best of noir fiction. 
• Here is their espionage fiction list.
•  Times Now (India) has a small fantasy and science fiction list for the year.
• Gizmodo got 20 science fiction, fantasy, and horror authors to pick out their best books in those genres for the year.  Naturally, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter made the list. 
• In history: 
• History Extra, part of the BBC, has a list of 37 best history books for the year.
• From their list, I already checked out from our library A Short History of the Gaza Strip.  While I know the basics of the history, I figured reading an up to date history would help me understand things better. 
• The list has one or two other "short" history books I may consider reading down the road.
• Black Perspectives, from the African American Intellectual History Society, presents a list of the best in Black history books for 2025.  There may be some items here I need to order for our library. I did go ahead and check our catalog, and from their list of 10 we have 4 at this moment.
• For horror, The Lineup has a list.  
• KCRW has a list of best cookbooks for the year. This list caught my eye in part because it mentions Barons, which I read and reviewed.  Note that Barons is a book about the food industry but it is not a cookbook. 
• Ministry of Pop Culture has their list of best books in pop culture. List features fiction and nonfiction.  
• Words Without Borders offers their selection of "the Best Books in (and on) Translation We Read in 2025."
• LGBTQ reading: 
• For folks who may enjoy sapphic fiction, I Heart Sapph Fic offers a list of top 5 for the year.
• OutSmart magazine has their list of must-read queer books for 2025.
• Them has their "32 Best LGBTQ+ Books of 2025." They state their list offers from "horror to heartfelt romance (and sometimes both at once)."

 

 Some miscellaneous lists for fun

Here are a few other lists on various topics just for fun. Maybe you will find something of interest here. Basically these are things that did not quite fit the above categories for me.  

• It is not often I see a list of books in cryptozoology, so I had to include this list of top books fro Cryptozoonews.  The list does feature books for adults and juvenile readers.

 
 

Random holidays season thoughts, or hey, cash for the holidays is fine

A couple of men doing some Christmas shopping. Photo, if I recall, comes from LoC.

 

 

I saw this article from the AP on my feeds, "What Americans think about giving cash as holiday gifts, according to a new AP-NORC poll," and it caught my attention. This is the sort of article I usually do a quick share on my social media with the link and maybe a snarky comment or two, but this one gave me a moment or to think a bit about what I think about some of the questions in the poll. Keep in mind, these are my random thoughts, and I am sure a few retailers and business people may not be too happy because I don't always follow what is conventional. So let's look at some of the findings from their poll. Quotes are from the article. 

" About 6 in 10 Americans say cash or gift cards are 'very' acceptable as holiday presents, but they’re much less likely to say that about a gift that was purchased secondhand or re-gifted. . . "

I am perfectly fine if I get the cash and/or a gift card for the holidays. In terms of gift cards, prepaid cards like VISA would be preferable to specific store cards because I could use them in various places including online shopping. In my case, I often buy cartomancy decks and other witchy woo stuff online, so a money gift card is helpful for that. When I get one of those cards for the holidays, I usually save them to use later in the year when some of the retailers have sales. Hey, you need to be prudent in your shopping and save a penny where you can. 

Another favorite gift card option for me is a card for Half Price Books, where I can always find something I want. 

Cash is certainly welcome and a good option. I do remember growing up that at times folks giving cash for a holiday present, or any present, were viewed as lazy or leaving it to the last minute. I am sure some of those folks were a little lazy or just left it to the last minute. But let us be honest, the flexibility of cash is a good thing. I would rather buy something I want and/or need with money from a gift than getting a gift I do not want nor need, and it taking up space until I can get rid of it.  According to the article, young people, which they define as under 45, do say cash is a very acceptable gift. In the end, in the Bad Economy, cash is still king. 

As for something secondhand or regifted, I suppose it depends on what the item is and in what condition it is in. I buy things used for myself often, including cartomancy decks (hey, a good cleansing, and you're good to go). Would I give as a gift something secondhand? It depends on what the item is and the condition. If it is something I think or know they would appreciate, and it is good condition, yes, I would. Would I regift something?  Yes, I probably would as long as I make sure there is no way the source of the original gift could find out, just to be safe. 

 

"It’s not just your pesky neighbors who leave their holiday decorations up into January. About one-third of U.S. adults say they’ll leave them up after New Year’s Day."

I am Puerto Rican, and the Better Half appreciates that including the fact we DO leave the holiday decorations well into January, sometimes close to February even. You see, where I come from we have a very long holiday season that also includes Three Kings Day (January 6th) and las octavitas after that. SO you bet we leave the tree up and decorations after New Year's Day. Plus, let's be honest, you go through all the work to put up a tree and decorate your home. You should take some time to really enjoy the results of your holiday labors instead of rushing out to bring it all down on January 1st, in my humble opinion.  

 

"About one-quarter of U.S. adults say they’re planning to watch sports on Christmas Day, while only 5% will head for a movie theater." 

We do not watch nor really care for sportsball at home anytime of the year and certainly not on Christmas. We do not do the movie theater thing either. Christmas we stay home, relax, spend time with family, enjoy some good food. But hey, do what makes you happy for the holiday. 

 

"About 3 in 10 U.S. adults say they will give a gift to their pet this year." 

In recent years, yes, we do have a stocking for our cats with treats and small toys, and once in a while they may get a larger gift as needed. It is a cute thing to do, and usually it does not cost very much. After all, they are part of the family.

And finally, 

". . .44% of Americans who say they won’t stay up to greet 2026, according to the poll." 

I will be honest, the appeal of staying up until midnight during new year's eve does wear off a bit as you get older. As a kid I thought it was great and fun. Now, it is a nice thing to do with your loved one, assuming she is not working, but we are pretty easy going about it. Often we will take a nap earlier in the day so we can be ready for midnight with a little bubbly. We do not do any specific rituals like eating grapes or tossing water out the door, though I try to do a cartomancy spread for the year ahead which I share over at Alchemical Thoughts. So feel free to stay tuned and check what the cards hold for the upcoming year. 

And there you have it, a few random thoughts about the holidays season based on some poll. 

How about you folks? Any of these traditions or activities things you do or do not do? Or maybe you add a spin? Feel free to leave comments and let me know. ,

Happy holidays. 

 

 

Holiday Post 2025: Gifts, strange things, and other shopping

Greetings and welcome to the second installment in my holiday posts series for 2025. In case you missed it, here is the first post in the series looking at holiday traditions, manners, and miscellany.

Today I am looking at gifts, strange things, and other shopping. This year seems to be marked by many people stating up front that they will spend less for the holidays and/or are making efforts to keep expenses and gifts at a modest scale. This is not the first year that people make such statements; you hear some of it every year, but this year the situation seems a bit more urgent, and folks sound a bit more insistent about it. I can add that we are doing our best to keep holiday expenses as low as possible and trying to keep the gifts modest. My one indulgence has been some cartomancy decks, and I saved money throughout the year to get them. One thing I can say is we are not using credit or any other pay later scheme to pay for the holidays. If we do not have the money for it, we can do without just fine. In the end, I hope folks out there take it easy. Don't feel pressured to shop just because the big stores and businesses urge you to do so. Do what you can with what you have, and in the end, remember it is more about the thought and the quality of time with those in your close circle. 

 

Tips and advice for holiday shopping 

• As I mentioned, many people this holiday season are trying to make do with less. The Bad Economy is hitting some folks hard. Here is a small sample of such stories: 
• Two out of Five Americans plan to spend less for the holiday season, via The Independent. For some, this means no gifts at all. This is not good news for ordinary folks, and it certainly is not the kind of news retailers want to hear at this time of year. The article draws on some survey data and a look at key issues in the U.S. such as the still expensive groceries and the Pendejo In Chief's tariffs. 
• NPR also mentions that Americans are planning to make do with less this holiday season. People who have what may be considered regular and stable jobs are still having to take on second jobs and even going to food pantries to make ends meet in the Bad Economy. That is not all, so read the article for more details. 
• Our Canadian neighbors up north are also planning to cut back. The Toronto Sun reports on a survey stating one-third of Canadians plan to spend less for the holidays. How grim are things? For example, the article reports that "the poll shows 60% of Canadians are redirecting savings to essentials like groceries. . . ". What can I say? People need to eat. The CBC also reported on what people are doing to keep expenses down for the holidays. According to the CBC, people say they are cutting down their shopping lists, limiting gifts to just the children, and thrifting. 
• Even back in Puerto Rico, where people do their best to go big during the holiday, 7 out of 10 Puerto Ricans report they are cutting back for the holiday season according to a local survey.Story via the San Juan Daily Star. 
• For some folks, anxiety with giving and/or receiving gifts is an issue. Via OM Times, here is some advice to help you cope and overcome that anxiety and discomfort. One bit of advice that resonated for me: "What is the best present you can give or receive? Many would say it is the other person’s presence and willingness to listen to them without judgment or interruption." 

 

General gift ideas

  

This is where I look at some general lists that have a bit of this and a bit of that. Mostly I am looking for items I may find interesting or amusing. 

• Rolling Stone has their list of "best Christmas list."  I am always skeptical when someone claims they got the best list of whatever, so let's take a look at this list. They state their list goes from affordable stocking stuffers to luxury items.
• Coming in at $30 is a 10 ounce Yeti tumbler. Given the recent craze of Stanley Cups and other similar beverage containers, does anyone really need another insulated cup? However, the detail to keep in mind with this tumbler is that its "double-walled insulation keeps wine at the right temperature." We all know how important it is to keep that wine at the right temperature. 
• At $25 they got a Leuchtturm1917 Notebook. Let me be honest. As an amateur writer and journaling enthusiast, I may use a nice notebook, but I certainly do not pay $25 for one. Only time I have paid more was for a handcrafted journal notebook from a local artist who works in leather and upcycled materials. Those are notebooks and notebook covers to cherish, plus you buy local. 
• At the $100 range they got a Google Nest Audio, one of those home smart devices that I will never have in my home as long as I live. However, if being spied on by Google is your thing, oh well. 
• $58 gets you a cast iron pigeon, which I honestly have no idea why anyone would want one, but here we are. 
• If you want to splurge for someone they suggest a LEGO set to build a Porsche 911 model at $169 or so.  I like LEGO, but that is definitely out of my price range.
• When I first saw this headline, I wondered why anyone wanted a hamper. Turns out across the pond the hamper refers to a basket, kind of like what I might call a picnic basket. Anyhow, The Telegraph (UK) has their list of best Christmas hampers if you are interested.  The newspaper reviewed a bunch of different baskets from various companies to help you decide which to get or not. Note these can be a bit on the pricey side. I'd say you may be better off making your own hamper or basket as a gift to someone. This leads me to the next article.
• In the Bad Economy, Teen Vogue offers the idea of "preloved baskets." These are gift baskets you make with items you got second hand and/or from thrift stores.  If you have someone in your life who is into some fandom, you can make the basket with items related to their fandom. With some patience, creativity, and perseverance, you can make this work for anyone and stay in budget. To be honest, I like this idea better than the Telegraph's list. 
• Need something for those stockings? Vice has a list of holiday snacks for the stockings. From the list, the Legally Addictive snacks were new to me. 

 

Specific niche gifts 

These are lists of gifts for specific groups and people. I am not listing them in any particular order. 

• For gaming enthusiasts and movie lovers, The Verge has a list of 36 items. Note this article also has links to some of their other niche lists. Prices range from under $20 to about $400. 
• The LEGO Gameboy model also made the Rolling Stone "best" list above.
• For men, Art of Manliness has a list of 15 items. This annual list tends to be traditional male gifts, some of them a bit old school, but I think the right guy would appreciate some of these. It has a blend of some basics, some practical things, and a classic or two. For example, it features a pocket knife, which is a very classic gift for a man, although at $200 for the one they feature, that is a serious investment in a pocket knife. I had pocket knives when I was young, especially when I was in the Boy Scouts, but as an adult I've never felt the need to have one, or at least a very high end one. I do have a multi-purpose knife and tool I carry in my backpack. 
• For the toy enthusiast, and I do not mean children unless we mean children of all ages. Comics Beat has a list for them in 2025. Once again, LEGO sets are popular in a list; this one features a LEGO gumball machine model that runs about $180. 
• For the comics lover, Comics Beat also has a list.  An issue with the list is they have their writers mention titles with brief descriptions, but there are no links for purchase or where to find the items, so you'll need to do a bit more searching on your own to find some of the books listed. Having said that, there are some interesting titles here, and you might discover a new to you book to read. 
• For the internet and online activist, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has a small holiday list of items you can buy that look cool and you can help support EFF. From their list I do like their gaming dice.
• For the fancy traveler, Quartz looks at 9 best Christmas destinations according to the Michelin Guide. If you have time and some money to burn, maybe you want to visit one of these places. The list does feature some nice places.
• For the book lover and reader:  
• Smart Bitches, Trashy Books has their annual holiday gift guide. It features gifts like mugs and jewelry. I thought the library card coasters were a nice idea.
• This just caught my eye, via Literary Hub, an estate sale in Philadelphia where they are selling thousands of books. If you were curious, like antiquarian books, or just want to see what the deceased collected, this would have been interesting. 
• Book Page has a list of 5 literary gift books.  From their list I am intrigued by the book Everyday I Read.
• Libros 787 has a list of 10 perfect books for Christmas (Spanish language).  From the list, I have the first book on the  list, the new at this time history of Puerto Rico, on my TBR list. Also from the list I read The Puerto Rican War graphic novel (link to my review). 
• For the stoner and cannabis enthusiast, if you are in Michigan, the Detroit Metro Times has some gift ideas.  
• For writers: 
• Especially memoir and essay writers, Open Secrets Magazine offers a gift guide. It features books, workshops you could sign up to do, and other things.  
• Literary Hub has a gift guide for writers.  Tea scented erasers are an item on the list, and I am not too sure about those. A lot of these items overall I definitely view as highly optional and probably a bit on the pretentious side.
• The Washington Blade offers an ultimate guide to queer gift giving.  Claiming it is "ultimate" does set the expectations fairly high. I have to admit the vulva candles can claim an ultimate gift level. The candle is one of those that burn from underneath, so they can keep the shape as they melt down. That aside, the list combines some cute items with some luxury ones.
• You may want to consider buying your gifts from Black-owned brands. Story via The Root.
• Rolling Stone has a list of best gifts for wives that prove the husband (or spouse) is listening. It must be wives who like expensive things because if I got some or any of these for the Better Half, she would know for sure I was NOT listening when she said to keep it simple and modest.
• Rolling Stone also has a list for the husbands. Most of the stuff is fairly stereotypical male guy stuff.      

 

Alcohol and spirits

  

A small sampling of the liquor and alcohol lists for gifts this year. I always remember back in younger days my dad, who was an industrial salesman, often received bottles of liquor as gifts from his vendors and clients. And they were usually very nice, albeit modestly priced bottles. My dad drank, but moderately so, so he got more booze than he knew what to do with it, so he drank some and regifted the rest as best he could.  

• Maxim has a tequila lover's gift guide.  Most of these are a bit pricey, but the Dizzy Donkey, love the name by the way, comes in at $30 for the blanco. Just for the name I am curious to go look for it. 
• Maxim also has a list of best rye whiskies for the year.  I do enjoy a good rye whiskey now and then, but these may be a bit out of my price range, but if you can afford it, have at it. 
• The Spirits Business has their top 10 Christmas gift ideas.  The rum gift set by Drop Works sounds interesting. 

 

 

 Tarot and other cartomancy and esoteric

• Collective World has a nice idea: what gift to give yourself this holiday based on your zodiac and Tarot. List is not so much material things but more things that may help your personal development and growth.
• Pagan Grimoire has a list of 40 witchy gifts for men. This caught my eye in part because one does not see too many things for men in the pagan and witchy scene. It is what it is, but as I said, it caught my eye. Naturally the items, some at least, do have the necessary manly man aesthetic, whatever that means. Anyhow, for the pagan dude in your life some of these could be an option. There are some interesting items overall. I liked this list.  
• From the list, I am intrigued by the back flow incense burner, the first item on the list, but I get the impression you may need to buy their incense to make it work. Personally, I am perfectly happy with basic incense and a cheap burner, but if you want to splurge a bit have at it. 
• By the way, the book they show as an example, The Hermetic Museum: Alchemy and Mysticism, I just finished reading it, and yea, for your pagan man, he might appreciate it if he is a reader or just likes nice books. I hope to post a review for it soon. The book is published by Taschen, and they always put out very nice books. 
• They also suggest a Tarot deck. Personally, I would say unless you know the person, this may not be the best option because, in my humble opinion, each cartomancer knows their own preferences and aesthetic. Just give me some cash or a gift card so I can get my own decks. Having said that, if this will be their first deck, just be mindful in your choices. 
• I liked the idea of making or giving a handmade wand. I may need to do that for myself, find a good stick to make a wand. 
• Naturally, there is at least one LEGO set, and this time they suggest the Hocus Pocus model featuring the Sanderson Sisters house so you can build it together (wink wink).
• Colette Baron Reid has her list of favorite things for the holidays. List combines a bit of self promotion, say for her decks, and some more personal ideas like writing  a handwritten notes. 
• Theresa Reed, the Tarot Lady, offers her "2025 Tarot, Astrology, and Mystical Holiday Shopping Guide." She does put some thought and offers some good variety of items and services of interest to the witchy and other magical folk. From the list of books she suggests, I am currently reading Ethony Dawn's Become an Exceptional Tarot Reader, and so far I can say the book is great. I will have a review here on the blog soon. 

 

 I end this post with the adult section. If that is not your thing, you can stop reading here, and I thank you for stopping by. If you are cool with, keep reading. 

Adult and/or sexy gift ideas 

 

 

•  Back in September, Tenga was taking pre-orders on their advent calendars. Story via AVN.The calendar features "25 unique surprise Tenga Egg strokers to discover throughout the holiday season." This sounds like one of those fun items that the Better Half and I should get one of these years for some fun quality time. At about $120, we'd need to save a bit of money for it. Oh well, maybe next year. If you want to get it, here is the link to their store.
• Girl on the Net has her list of Christmas gifts with sexy suggestions.