Book Review: Read this when things fall apart

Kelly Hayes, ed., Read this when things fall apart: letters to activists in crisis. Chico, CA: AK Press, 2025. ISBN: 9781849355841. 

Genre: politics, activism

Subgenre: letters, advice

Format: trade paperback

Source: Hutchins Library, Berea College  

 

This is one of the most moving books I've read so far this year. Though it is geared to activists, regular folks like me can gain benefit, encouragement, and inspiration from this book. I am a librarian and teacher/educator at best. For me, this is a powerful book. 

The book is a collection of letters written by activists for activists. In the struggle, there will be setbacks and defeats. You may come to feel angry, frustrated, tired, ready to give up. That's when this book can help. The book features 21 letters on various topics. Note that some letters do come with a trigger warning. Some letter topics include: 

• If you're losing and discouraged.
• If you're panicking about collapse.
• If you are heartbroken.
• If you are struggling with grief. 

Whether you are an activist in the trenches or just a decent human being about to lose hope after looking around, this book is for you. It can remind you why the struggle is important. It can bring you comfort in your darkest hour. It can give a bit of healing when you need it. And after you read the book, share it with someone else who may need it. 

Though you can read all the letters, you can also pick and choose to read just what you need. You may identify strongly with some topics. Other topics may not call to you as much. I'd say read them anyways and learn something new. The letters bring in a bit of history, personal experiences, and plenty of practical advice. Social justice work and struggle are not easy. This book can bring some written advice and support to keep going in the Hard Times. 

I recommend the book for public and academic libraries. In academia, schools with strong programs in social justice, peace studies, and similar fields will want this book. I ordered it for our library, and it is a good fit for us. 

Overall this book is an essential reading. 

5 out of 5 stars.  

 

Additional reading notes: 

 

What the book is and is not: 

"This book is not an organizing handbook. It is a humble, personal offering grounded in an awareness that there are some moments, on all fronts of struggle, when, despite all our best efforts, things fall apart. At such times, we sometimes need a kind thoughtful voice amid the chaos or an outstretched hand to reach for" (3).

The editor notes that the book is no substitute for having a community, but there are also moments community is not enough, and you need a bit more. Consider this book your lifeline for such moments. And maybe these letters may inspire you to write a letter to others.

 

On living in the United States: 

"We live in a class dictatorship thinly disguised as a democracy. Our speech is not free, and the level of surveillance and repression by the state and its parallel institutions has been astounding. Even in our colleges and universities-- institutions whose primary missions are the spread of knowledge and free inquiry-- the will of donors has overruled the edicts of open discourse and student needs" (19). 

 

Book qualifies for the following 2026 Reading Challenge: 

 

 

  

Deck Review: Sacred Sites Oracle Cards

Barbara Meiklejohn-Free (author) and Yuri Leitch (artist), Sacred Sites Oracle Cards. Newbury Port, MA: Watkins Publishing (imprint of Red Wheel/Weiser). 2015. ISBN: 9781780288420. (link to publisher)

This kit includes the 53-card deck and a small companion book. The kit comes in a nice slipcase, which adds a bit of a classy element. From the publisher's description: 

"Heal your past, transform your present, and fulfill your potential by connecting with the planet's most sacred sites. . .". 

 The book is arranged as follows: 

• Introduction. The author describes some of her travels to sacred sites and the overall concept of the deck. If you can't just take off to travel, the cards here may help you connect with the energy of these sacred sites. 
• How to read the cards. Here we get instruction on how to use the deck. The cards are arranged by directions: north, east, south, and west. Each card has interpretations based on these world: lower world (the past), middle world (the present), and upper world (potential). In a nutshell, you interpret the card based on what part of a card-- top, middle, or bottom-- catches your eye right away. It's a different system, and best I can tell unique to this deck. 
• Card entries. Entries are grouped by direction. Note that entries under each direction are not alphabetized. Since the cards are not number either, it may take a bit of work finding a card entry in the book. Each entry includes location name, card's energy focus, and location of the site. Each entry also has interpretation for each world-- lower, middle, and upper. Each entry closes with a small ritual, invocation, meditation, and/or exercise you can do. On a side note, card entry book pages are color coded. The detail makes the book look nice, but that is about it. 
• Small list of resources. This is basically the authors' books and websites. A bit of self-promotion. 

 

The card art has a nice pastel coloring style with good details. The art does draw you in. The division of past, present, and future is more apparent in some cards than others. Cards overall are nice and colorful. In theory, I would say you can probably read the cards intuitively. However, you will need to read the book if you want to read them according to the author's system of directions and levels. The text interpretations are good, but you need to do some serious study to master the deck's system. Personally, I sort of read the cards intuitively and then read the book for clarification or to enhance my initial reading. 

The cards measure about 5 inches by 3 inches. The cards have a color border based on its region. At the side of each card there is an arrow tip to indicate a card's direction. The cards have a thick glossy finishl they can stick together when shuffling. The card back art is minimalist and reversible, though the deck is not designed for reversals. 

Overall, I like the deck. I do like the art. It's system does feel a bit complex at times. You do need to keep the book on hand. While I am good with it in my collection, it does not feel like a deck I'd bring out to use often. It may be comparable to the Earth Power Oracle (link to my review). Between the two, I like the other deck better. 

3 out of 5 stars.  

 This kit qualifies for the following 2026 Reading Challenge: 

 

Deck Review: Sufi Tarot

Ayeda Husein, The Sufi Tarot. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, 2022. ISBN: 9781401970413. 

Genre: Tarot, cartomancy

Subgenre: Sufism

Format: 78-card deck with companion book

Source: I own this one 

Side note: as of this post, checked the publisher site, and deck was not available. It may be out of print at this time.  

 

Two of Coins 

This kit includes the 78-card deck and a small companion book. As the publisher describes, this deck "creatively reenvisions the cards through a Sufi lens and shares the potency of its ancient of its ancient teachings and healing techniques." I picked this up due to the art, and I was curious about how the deck would blend Tarot and Sufism. The concept works well. 

The book has two major parts: Using the Deck and The Cards. Part One explains how the deck draws on the Persian practice of Fal (Fal-e Hafez), offers card spreads, and short explanations of the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana cards. Part Two has the card entries. Entries include upright keywords, reversed keywords, descriptions of card images and symbols, "when this card appears for you," contemplations (a couple of reflective questions), and an affirmation. The entries have the same information and quality for the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana. 

The book is an easy read, and I found it interesting. The text blends lessons of Sufism and Tarot well. The reflective questions are helpful and can work well for journaling. The book also includes a small set of endnotes to document some references. Endnotes may help readers find some suggestions for further readings on Sufism. 

The cards do follow Rider Waite Smith (RWS) for the most part. Note that some of the card names are changed to Arabic names, but you can still recognize the basic imagery. The art is beautiful, expressive, and colorful with images that draw you in. The images are nice to look at and good for meditation. I feel this deck can work well for intuitive readers. 

You don't need to practice Sufism to use this deck. I found myself learning some new things, and I really enjoyed using the deck. I found the deck works well and provides good readings. 

The cards measure about 5 inches by 3 1/2 inches. Size is close to most oracle card decks. The card stock is a bit thick. It makes for a bit heavy deck. The cards have a very soft gloss, and they can stick when shuffling. They are not always easy to shuffle, but the effort is worth it. The art on the back of the cards is reversible. I love this one and recommend it. 

5 out of 5 stars. 

 

Kit qualifies for the following 2026 Reading Challenge: 

 

 

Book Review: Dark Shadow, Golden Shadow

Shannon Knight, Dark Shadow, Golden Shadow: magickal and tarot to confront your fears & free your potential. Newbury Port, MA: Weiser Books, 2025.   

 

Genre: Tarot, cartomancy

Subgenre: Psychology

Format: e-book galley

Source: Edelweiss Plus 

 

There must be a small trend of books on Tarot and shadow work going on. This is the second book on the topic I've read recently, and I got at least one more on the reading list. The first one so far, if you are curious, was Tarot and the Psychology of the Soul (link to my review). The book I am reviewing now does include other additional magical tools in addition to Tarot to help in your inner work journey. 

The book features an introduction, eight chapters, a final notes, and a list of references. The author uses secular, therapeutic, and psychological elements in the book and in their work. 

A strength of the book is in the various exercises and techniques. Some use Tarot, and for the most part as long as you have a Rider Waite Smith (RWS) deck or an RWS-based deck, you are good to go.  Note that the author says you can also use an oracle deck if you are so inclined. For other exercises the most you may need is your journal and a pen.

The books has some parts that may be a little heavy on the psychological jargon. It is not always an easy read, but hang with it. The book brings together theory and techniques to help you do your inner work and expand your self-awareness. 

An interesting element is the inclusion of the golden shadow, our positive elements we may keep buried for various reasons. This is in contrast to the dark shadow, the negative elements we keep buried and that books on shadow work usually discuss. The golden shadow adds an uplifting element, and it can help readers maintain a better overall balance. 

This may be a book for more intermediate to advanced readers. You don't need to read Jung's work or other psychological texts to read this book. If you've read those texts, you might appreciate the book a bit better. Still, I would say get the book for the techniques and exercises; you get plenty of value there and a lot of prompts for the work.

If your library collects esoterica, they may want to add this one. It might also be of interest for libraries' psychology collections. Overall, this is one I really liked.

4 out of 5 stars. 

Additional reading notes:  

The author's hope for the book: 

"My hope is that within these pages you also find value in the merger of two different, but complementary worlds: shadow work and tarot. In your shadow work quest, I hope this book becomes your companion in helping you discover deeper layers of insight, self-compassion, and a more confident understanding of yourself. The work ahead may be challenging, but it's also profoundly rewarding" (3).

 

On how to use this book: 

"Instead, this book serves as an introductory guide to help you begin (or deepen) your shadow work journey. Each chapter offers insights, practical exercises, and reflective prompts designed to help you explore different facets of your shadow self" (3). 

 

Defining shadow work: 

"Shadow work is the process of acknowledging the repressed and rejected parts of ourselves and bringing those parts into our conscious awareness to help us feel whole, integrated, and self-aware" (5). 

 

On the golden shadow, the positive aspects we may be repressing: 

"The golden shadow can include untapped or suppressed potential related to creativity, intuition, and curiosity, among other qualities. By discovering and then embracing these golden shadows, we can enhance our lives and relationships, bringing our life a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment. Shadow work is not just about confronting the dark; it's also about reclaiming the full spectrum of who we are" (11). 

 

On radical acceptance: 

"Radical acceptance is the recognition that certain things are beyond our control, and instead of resisting or fighting against them, we choose to accept them as they are. This does not mean we condone these behaviors or traits, or agree with them; it just means we accept that certain experiences that happened (or in this case, certain shadows were formed) and focus on how we respond to it" (36).

 

Why Tarot is beneficial for shadow work: 

"Tarot is a beneficial tool for exploring the shadow and its functions because it provides a visual outlet to witness shadow material and its complexes and projections in a safe and accessible way" (70). 

  

This book qualifies for the following 2026 Reading Challenge: 

 

Media Notes: Roundup for August 2026

 

 

  

 

Welcome to my somewhat random selection of the movies and series on DVD and/or online I watched during June 2026.

Movies and films (links to IMDB.com for basic information unless noted otherwise). Some of these I watched via TubiTv.com or other online source. The DVDs come from the public library (unless noted otherwise). In addition, I will try to add other trivia notes, such as when a film is based on a book adding the information about the book (at least the WorldCat record if available). 

• Aladdin (2026. Thriller. Horror). Plot description: "A group of friends vacation on a lake front cabin and find Aladdin's ancient lamp which grants 3 terrible wishes." For the record, this is not your kids' Disney Aladdin or any other sweet fairy tale. Film opens with a small narrative to tell the story of the lamp and its sinister power for wishes are not as simple as the cute fairy tales would have you believe. Beware what you wish for. From there, we move to the present day with Rachel and her partner arriving to the cabin. She finds the lamp, and initially they ignore it, but soon curiosity gets the better of her, and we all know what happens when curiosity strikes. The film uses music pretty well to set up mood and build up tension. The movie is a bit more thriller than outright horror. It builds up pretty well. The last act in the last 25 minutes or so gets a bit convoluted, but it is still an interesting twist. The movie is good, not great. Acting is decent enough; then again, it is a small cast of the four friends staying in the house for a weekend.  The plot works in a relatively simple way, and pace does move along. Not much slow time once things get going. In the end, it was OK for me, so 2 out of 5 stars. Watched 8/1/2026 via TubiTv.
• Side note. There must be a small trend going on of remaking or reshaping classic fairy tales into horror films. Cinderella's Curse, which I watched last month is an example. Most of these are independent films, and Tubi is picking up a few of them. For me, the trailers seem interesting, so I find myself watching one of these films here and there. 
• Side note. By the way, that lake front cabin is a seriously huge house, more like a mansion. The house does have some narrow hallways that can make it feel a bit claustrophobic and then some very open spaces. It all adds well to the atmosphere. Also the big house does not help Rachel's megalophobia, which we learn for certain when a friend casually mentions it; we got some hints when Rachel arrived and was uncomfortable about the house's size.
• Also, small detail, Rachel, who arrives first to the house with her boyfriend, is dressed in a top, bare midriff, and pants in green. The wardrobe in a subtle way makes her look a bit like the fairy tale princess.  
• By the way, Aladdin is barely mentioned as part of an old story one of the guys tell when researching the lamp, and a bit further down the movie plot (but I won't say more to avoid spoilers).
• Medusa (2021. Horror). Plot description: "After being bitten by a lethal snake, a young woman experiences changes in her senses and appearance, as she sheds her old self and slowly turns into a deadly weapon."  The trailer gave me the impression this might be a bit of a wronged woman finds power and gets revenge kind of story, so took a chance since I do like a revenge story now and then. This is another independent film. We start with Carly, a young prostitute with a bit of a heroin habit who returns to the campground where it seems she used to work with a few other women. Her pimp brings her back after it appears she broke off with some other guy. Everything seems fine until the pimp leads her to a client out of the campground. He happens to have an affinity for snakes, and one of them bites her when they are having sex. So we may think, OK, she got paid, guy was a little kinky, no big deal. Except soon she does start to see signs of change. Meanwhile, the madam and other girls think issues Carly may have with a client where she bites him may be due to her heroin habit, and since she is not forthcoming, they have no way of knowing. But we the audience know. Soon Carly discovers it is more than just a snake bite, and she embraces her new powers, but it does take her time to fully figure them out. Movie is a bit slow as Carly discovers her changes gradually. There is a bit of suspense, horror element is a bit on the light side. It does have a pretty good ending. Despite a bit of slow pacing, I liked this movie. To be honest, I was not sure what to expect, but what I got was pretty good. I found the story intriguing, and I appreciated Carly coming into her strength and getting her justice. 3 out of 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 8/1.
• Medusa's Venom (2023. Horror). Plot description: "The beast is back and her venom is deadlier than ever. When newcomer Lola is welcomed into Medusa's circle, she endures a ritual to bring her closer to her new sisters." Turns out Medusa had a sequel, so what the heck, I am watching it. We return the prostitutes' camp, though we get a mostly new cast, members of the cult we met in the first film. When Lola arrives, the others have to decide to let her into their midst or not. There is where a bit of the movie's suspense lies. The group trying to see if Lola can join them, and Lola being a bit more curious than would be good for her. Pacing here is a bit slower than the first, focus is on Lola's eventual transformation despite initial misgivings and a young man who may be smitten with her. Movie is more suspense that horror. Most of the horror is in the last act. I like this one, but it is not a big deal. I liked it enough to give it 3 out of 5 stars, though I like the first a bit better. Via TubiTv. Watched 8/15.
• X-Ray (1981. Horror. Thriller. Also known as Hospital Massacre). Plot description: "A hospital becomes hell for a woman who finds herself at the mercy of a deranged killer posing as a doctor who may have ties to her past."  For starters, this is a Cannon Group film, which gives folks an idea what we might expect. The connection is a common story in a few of these 80s slashers: young girl rejects a boy that may or not be awkward somehow. Boy grows up, becomes successful, and wants revenge. Talk about holding a grudge. Then again, she grows up to be a bit of a bitch, divorced, and, pardon the language, so hard to sympathize with her. We start in 1961, and then movie moves to 19 years later. Overall the plot is fairly ridiculous, but the kills are fairly good for a slasher film. Still the plot as a whole is a blend of ridiculous, unnecessarily complicated, and just at times laughable. You really need to suspend the disbelief here, and that may take a bit of work. If the plot was not so convoluted, and some of the setting's choices not so ridiculous that they make you not able to just go with it, this film would work as a decent slasher movie. The kills are pretty good, and there is some suspense within the bad plotting. I'd say this is OK at most, so 2 stars out of 5, but barely. Not really the best Cannon could do. Though we can add Barbie Benton, the lead, was pretty easy on the eyes. Watched 8/2 via TubiTv. 
• The common story reminded me of the later film Valentine, which I watched back in 2021.  
• If anything, the movie early on has some small scares here or there, often with a touch of humor, just to make sure you know this is a horror movie, and there is something wrong in the hospital. 
• Gotta love these older films with details like our protagonist sitting a moment in a hospital hallway and lights a cigarette. Less restrictive times. 
• Not sure about some of the soundtrack using music that sounds like choir music from films like The Exorcist, but you do get the scary mood they are going for. Rest of the music works well enough.
• By the way, this is a seriously unprofessional hospital. The villain changes her exam results folder. Whatever is in the new folder, apparently makes it sound like she has something bad (she is there for a casual check up for her medical insurance), and no one tells her what is in the folder as doctors take turns looking at it. Then when one doctor tells her to undress for who knows what reason, she complies without even asking. Today she'd be screaming sexual harassment or at least making a fuss. By this point, I am honestly curious what the fuck did the killer put in her chart that makes the one doctor  do a full body exam on her. Oh, and by the way, no one can find her regular doctor (you can guess why). Simpler times I suppose. 
• We get halfway to the movie, and while the killer has killed a few more victims, which have not been discovered yet, no one still tells her what her condition is. Even when they redo the blood work, again, the killer changes the new folder, and apparently they think she has some deadly condition, but again, heaven forbid anyone tells her. I know keeping her in the hospital is part of the plot, but still, this is getting ridiculous.
• Oh, and the security is not that much better in the hospital. Even when people scream when getting killed, no one comes to check, no security guards, no nurses when you need them, so on. And by the way, for some reason no one ever thinks to try turning on a light switch when needed. 
• Oh, and fact she makes some dumb choices, as often happens in a slasher film, does not help her either.   
• And by the way, on a final note, we never find out what deadly disease or condition was in the fake folder that the doctors thought she had that was necessary to keep her in the hospital. 
• Oh, and that ending kind of makes you go, really? After all that, we get this?
• Beware the Lake (2017. Horror). Plot description: "A dead high schooler rises from her watery grave to take revenge on the jealous cheerleaders who drugged and murdered her." From the opening sequence, for a moment I thought I was watching the wrong movie. We seem to be in an  Eastern European setting, or at least a rural setting where they speak some kind of Eastern European sounding language, out in some woods where a little girl gets killed by a bear. Mom takes the remaining bloody ribbon of the girl to a witch, not sure why. As the scene ends, someone comes back to the mom ominously, and the opening credits roll transitioning to the present. I get now the opening is to provide a bit of clue about the curse we will see later. Overall, the movie is OK at best. The premise is good, but the pacing is slow, and the movie seems a bit stretched at times. The acting is not that much better either. Also does take a bit of a while before we get the first victim. Deaths are not terribly gory, not that is necessarily bad, but to be honest they are kind of meh. The ending felt like they ran out of time. I am willing to give it 2 out of 5 stars at the most. I'd consider this an optional watch. Watched 8/15 via TubiTv. 
• By the way, early on we learn the one girl, Tabitha, and her aunt Drina come from a Roma family, thus the Eastern European context. Her aunt and her move into a small American town. 
• The cheerleaders are mean mostly for the sake of being mean to the new girl in town. Really, other than being petty blonde bimbos and racist to boot, there is no other motivation. So let us be honest, we can't wait for dead girl from beyond to start taking her revenge. 
• The cops investigating the first death, the sheriff and deputy, are comically barely competent. Their comic relief, brief as it was, is part of why I did not rate the movie lower. His crime theories are a bit out there. 

 

Television and other series (basic show information links via Wikipedia unless noted otherwise). Some of these come in DVD from the public library. Others may be via YouTube, which, as noted before, I keep finding all sorts of other old shows in it, often full episodes:

• Gangsters: America's Most Evil (True crime. Documentary). Plot description: "documentary television series that airs on Reelz which profiles notorious criminals whose crimes involve murder, drug trafficking, racketeering, and human trafficking." Series has 6 seasons out. Tubi has the first two seasons, and I found the rest over at the Roku Channel, so I will likely catch up over there.
• I continued and finished watching the first season this month.   
• In season 2, episode 2, about Bartolome Moya, a kingpin who gets sent home by a judge to die, i.e. on humanitarian grounds, but then manages to get a heart transplant and escapes, OK, that is quite the crime story.
• How It's Made (2001-2019. Documentary).  Documentary series that focuses on how common items are made. TubiTv has 24 of the 32 seasons, which is still plenty to watch. Each episode features three or four items, and it lasts about 20 minutes without ads. I started watching this month, and I watch an episode here or there when I want something easy to watch. For the older episodes, it is interesting to see how some of the items by now may seem out of date given how tech has advanced since 2001, but for many others they are still made the same way. As a kid, this is the kind of show I would've loved, so appeals to my inner child a bit. In the U.S, the Science Channel used to carry this show. I managed to watch 7 episodes of the first season this month, and I will continue watching.
• Transformers Prime (2010-2013. Science Fiction. Animated). Plot description: "Roll out with all-new adventures starring Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Arcee, and the rest of the heroic Autobots as they battle the evil Decepticons!" Caught my eye in part due to the 3D animation.  Did not really watch this when it was on TV, so taking a chance. Tubi has all three seasons plus some specials. I started watching last weekend of the month, and I got through the first season. The series is mostly OK; we'll see if I keep watching or not next month.  
• On a small side note, the series on TubiTv lacks closed captioning.  
• Series has the usual issue with most of the Transformers series, namely, the pesky humans. Part of why I prefer series like Beast Wars and Beast Machines, no humans. 
• Once you get past the five-part pilot episode, the individual episodes vary in quality with some better than others. One or two you can probably skip. Still, so far, for some kids, the series can be entertaining. May not hold up as well for adults, though the animation looks pretty good.  
• In addition to the Decepticons, the series adds another villain: the human Silas and his MECH organization which want the Transformers technology for their own ends.  

 

10 Books About Books and Reading I Have Read

I recently realized that I have read quite a few books about books and the reading life, so I decided to pick out ten to share with my four readers. The books are not listed in any particular order, and I am including links to the reviews so readers can learn more if they wish. 

Paperbacks from Hell: the Twisted History of '70s and '80s Horror Fiction.

Words Onscreen: the Fate of Reading in a Digital World.

 A Pound of Paper: Confessions of a Book Addict.

 Book Love.

 

Browsings: a Year of Reading, Collecting, and Living With Books.

 The Card Catalog: Books, Cards, and Literary Treasures.

 The Bookshop Book.

 

 

 The Public Library: a Photographic Essay.

 

 

 The Library at Night.

 The Reader's Book of Days: True Tales from the Lives and Works of Writers for Every Day of the Year.

 

 

 

Book Review: Writing Timbuktu

Shamil Jeppie, Writing Timbuktu: the book in West African history. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2026. ISBN: 9780691273853. 

Genre: history, books

Subgenre: African Studies

Format: hardback

Source: Hutchins Library, Berea College.  

 

This book is a history of books and scholarly book culture in West Africa. Though much of the focus is on Timbuktu, the author makes clear that other cities in the region were book centers as well. One important detail I learned is that printed books did not arrive in West Africa until the early 20th century. Books in this context are handwritten books. Written by hand, these books for the most part were unbound pages held together by leather covers. Even with the availability of print books today, this manuscript culture still survives and thrives. 

The book features an introduction, eight chapters, and an epilogue. It also includes notes and a bibliography. In addition it features a few illustrations that I found helpful to visualize the kinds of books the author discusses. 

Most of these books were written by religions, i.e. Muslim, scholars writing for other scholars. Topics include religious commentary, doctrine, and legal opinions. Along the way, the author also discusses the book culture and how these scholars were educated by scholars who came before them. They formed a healthy scholarly community. Many students were taught in person by a scholar, but we do get at least one case of a student learning via letter writing, an early case of a correspondence course. 

I appreciated that the author acknowledges limitations. If a detail is known, he explains how we know. If not, he acknowledges we just don't know at this time. Overall, what we do know he documents well and cites sources. 

The book as a whole is interesting, especially if you enjoy books about book culture. It is an academic book, so it can be a bit dry on the narrative here and there. The author does a good job of starting at Timbuktu then expanding into the region to the writers of today. I learned a part of book history that is not widely known. I do hope more people read it and learn too. 

This book is mainly for academic libraries, especially those with strong African studies programs and/or humanities and history. Some LIS programs may find it of interest. It may be a bit too esoteric for public libraries. 

In the end, I liked it. 

3 out of 5 stars. 

 

Deck Review: Incubus Tarot

 Davide Furno (creator and artist) and Charles Harrington (text author), Incubus Tarot. Torino, Italy: Lo Scarabeo, 2024 (link to publisher). 

Genre: Tarot, cartomancy

Subgenre: demons, shadow, surreal

Format: kit with small book and deck

Source: I own this one 

The High Priestess-II 

This 78-card set includes the deck and a small companion book. Typical of Lo Scarabeo, the book's text in in multiple languages: English, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese. On a side note, I am wondering if the Bad Economy is affecting Lo Scarabeo because they seem to be cutting back on language translations. They used to also have languages like Chinese and Russian, but now what remains other than English are Romance languages. The book has 127 pages of text; it has 49 pages for the English text. The text is arranged as follows: 

• A deck of demons. This is a brief description of the deck's theme of demons. Demons here are not just supernatural demons; they can be your inner demons, part of your shadow. 
• A Tarot with three voices. This section explains the three points of view every card offers: essence, whispers of the abyss, and reversed, and they are briefly explained. The author recommends shuffling the cards so you get upside down (reversed) cards. I don't usually do reversals, but that is because I can usually sense a reversed meaning on an upright card. I'd say do what works for you. 
• The Devil and Angel on your shoulder spread. This a simple 3-card spread. 
• The cards. This is where you get the card entries. We start with the Major Arcana followed by the Minor Arcana suits: cups, pentacles, wands, and swords. All card entries feature the same text of essence, whispers of the abyss, and reversed meaning, basically three short paragraphs per card. 

The book overall is pretty basic, yet I found the card interpretations to be interesting and worth reading. Can you read the cards without the book? Probably, but you may miss some of the cards' full wisdom. 

The card art is mostly in grey tones with some additional limited colors such as purple tones. Up front you can tell this is a dark deck, which works fine for me as I like dark decks. If you are more into sun and light and bright, this deck may not be for you. The art at times has a surreal quality. You can see the artist paid attention to detail. The characters featured in the cards are expressive and show emotions well. 

Five of Pentacles 

For the most part, the card art falls within the Rider Waite Smith (RWS) tradition. The art is expressive enough that the deck can work for intuitive readers. The cards do spark the imagination. 

The cards measure about 4 1/2 inches by 2 1/2 inches. The card back art is not reversible. Each card is identified by simple print font in a black ribbon at the bottom of a card. The card stock is a bit thin, typical of Lo Scarabeo style. The cards have a soft gloss and shuffle with relative ease. 

Overall I love this deck, and it is now one my favorites. This is one I'd buy a back up copy to make sure I am not without it. You can use it year round, but I would prefer using it during the dark time of the year. This is one I highly recommend. 

5 out of 5 stars.  

 Decks with similar appeal factors that I have used. Links go to my reviews: 

• I got the deck in part because Charles Harrington wrote the text. He also wrote the text for the Murder of Crows Tarot, Tarot of the Vampires, and Tarot V. 
• The Ludy Lescot Tarot. 
• The Dark Fairytale Tarot.  

 

 

Book Review: Surviving the Twenty-First Century

Saúl Alvídrez (Author)(Interviewer), Noam Chomsky(Interviewee), and José Alberto Mujica Cordano (Interviewee), Surviving the Twenty-First Century. New York: Verso Books, 2025. 

Genre: politics and current affairs

Subgenre: interviews  

Format: trade paperback

Source: Hutchins Library, Berea College 

 

Activist Saúl Alvídrez brings together scholar and theorist Noam Chomsky and guerrilla fighter and former President of Uruguay Jose "Pepe" Mujica for a series of conversations. They speak on various topics such as culture, war, technological disruption, China, fascism, democracy, and a few other topics of interest in the Hard Times. They look at the situation today. They look at history and how we got here. Then they provide some ideas for solutions and how to move forward. 

The book is arranged into four parts. Once we get past part one, which has author introductions, we get to the interviews and conversations. In a way reading this book feels like listening to two elders discussing politics while sitting on a porch. These are knowledgeable leftist elders who have been in the activist trenches for many years, and we get to hear their experiences and their advice to younger people. 

I wanted to like this book more, but it has some issues. For one, it can get a little repetitive once you get about halfway through the book. Two, the book was published in 2025, but some of the interviews happen years before. As a result, current events have overtaken some of their observations and speculations. Some parts may be out of date by the time you read the book. Third, much of this is very theoretical. This last may be I just don't share some of their optimism given the Hard Times. Some of their solution ideas, as good as they sound on paper, just don't seem feasible given the Hard Times and the people who actually hold power. 

On a positive note, we may learn some new things about American and world history. We also consider how things could've been different if one or two decisions had been different. 

Overall the book was OK. It was interesting in some parts. It was less so in others. You listen to the elders speak, nod, possibly agree, then still wonder how exactly will we survive  the century without some radical change. Values like democracy, freedom, sustainable living, and community are great, and we need such value to make it through. I don't feel they really answer how do we get there because just hoping for others' goodwill and self-interest-- note they are by their admission libertarians on the left-- is not going to cut it in the Hard Times. In the end, this may be more a book for leftist political theorists and leftist activists who likely already share their ideas. Still, the book is accessible enough for regular readers and people wanting to learn. 

2 out of 5 stars. 

 

Additional reading notes: 

Alvidrez understands the real pandemic of our time: 

"...I came to understand a hard truth that haunts my generation: depression is the real pandemic of our era, because capitalism not only exploits everyone, it also depresses us all. At its root lies the greatest contradiction of our time: capitalist success and human happiness are simply not compatible" (xix).

 

The two big challenges the elders see: 

"The two awesome challenges to decent survival are, of course, nuclear weapons and environmental catastrophe. The best defense would be a functioning democracy in which informed and engaged citizens join together to develop means to overcome the threats-- as can be done" (18).

 I am not sure if the idea of an informed and engaged citizenry is meant to make us cry or laugh given our current times and policies enacted to prevent such citizen engagement. This is where I recall George Carlin's idea of the Real Owners. 

 

One of Mujica's greatest concerns: 

"Will humanity have time to right itself, or will be succumb to ecological holocaust? Will we fail to make the important political decisions?" (31). 

I don't feel too optimistic trying to answer those two questions. 

 

Mujica on the need of creativity because, let us be honest, a lot of the so-called "left" now kind of sucks: 

"It seems to me that creativity must be encouraged, because we are in a world with an old left that lives too much on nostalgia, a left that finds it hard to realize why it failed and has great difficulty in imagining new ways forward. I believe that this is a time of much rehearsal, a lot of experimentation and creativity" (44). 

That line about the old left living out of nostalgia resonated quite a bit for me. As for the rest of the description,  it is spot on for the U.S. Democrats, also known as the useless Republican Lite. 

 

Chomsky on terrorism: 

"We call terror what others do to us, but not what we do to them" (62). 

Oh so true. 

 

 

 

Media Notes: Roundup for July 2026

 

  

 

Welcome to my somewhat random selection of the movies and series on DVD and/or online I watched during July 2026.

Movies and films (links to https://www.themoviedb.org/ for basic information unless noted otherwise). Some of these I watched via TubiTv.com or other online source. The DVDs come from the public library (unless noted otherwise). In addition, I will try to add other trivia notes, such as when a film is based on a book adding the information about the book (at least the WorldCat record if available). 

Watched a good amount of horror, good, bad, and so so for July.  

• Stupid Games (2024. Horror. Mystery. Thriller). Plot description: "A girl's discreet attempt to assess her one night stand and his friends takes a deadly turn when she and her roommates host a dinner party where they unknowingly unleash a malevolent force." This is one of those movies you never hear off that go straight to video, or in this case straight to streaming. The trailer made me curious enough to take a chance.  As the old proverb says, "play stupid games, win stupid prizes." Yea, they made a movie based on that bit. Movie starts a little slow with the awkward dinner scene of the group getting to know each other, and it really is kind of awkward. Soon about a half hour in we get a small first hint of a possible horror to come. Except for Stanley, the last minute guy, they are all pretty vapid folks, the kind for horror fodder you don't care for much. When the power goes out, they light candles and play a new to them tabletop game that seems to soon take turns of its own, and then the mystery thickens. While we get some hints, it is not until an hour in, and this is an hour and 25 minutes or so movie, where we get a sense of what is really happening. The movie works because it builds the suspense very slowly, you get a hint here, a hint there. Once we figure out what is happening, the pace picks up and stays tense and swift to the end. To be honest, it turned out better than I thought it would be from the beginning. It's suspenseful, tense in a slow burn way. Not the kind of movie to watch with the lights out. Could be a good choice for a Halloween marathon. I ended up liking it, so 3 out of 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 7/4.
• Clickbait: Unfollowed (2024. Horror. Thriller. Comedy). Plot description: "A group of influencers are invited to a house for a competition with deadly consequences." Given I have little to no use for influencers, which I view as one of the most low and useless lifeforms out there, the idea of a few getting killed off in some gruesome way sounds good. And so I find myself watching this movie. This is one of TubiTv Originals, which can be hit or miss, but so far I've seen more good than miss on their selections. We start with a diverse group of influencers: a guru woman (think a blonde skinny yoga granola eating woman into woo woo), a make up art influencer, a money schemes guy, a fitness sort of alpha male guy (you know the type), a chubby woman, and a child influencer (who is doing it more because mom makes him do it, again, think a bit Honey Boo Boo here, but a bit more reluctant). The game seems simple, go to the one place, and over the game whoever gets the most followers wins. We get a dinner scene-- their host has not shown yet-- which mostly serves to allow us to know each influencer a bit more. The boy's mom is particularly irritating as in she won't shut up. What we may notice is the MUA may be the only one with a bit of caution sense, and let's know they are the Black person to the group. When the influencers do their first challenge in the game, and the first elimination results in death, they realize the horror of only one of them being able to leave as winner.  The comedy for the most part comes from the influencers bickering with each other. Overall, this was, again, better than I expected. Some humor. It also has some serious commentary on influencer culture and social media, and some horror with a twist or two. You may wonder what would you do, if you were an influencer that is, to keep your followers and their likes and comments? I liked it, so I'd say 3 out of 5 here. Watched 7/4.
• 7 Deadly Sins (2019. Horror). Plot description: "A group of teenagers look to have the best Spring Break party ever before going off to college. However, when party goers start to die, who's to blame? Themselves? Or the demon they summoned? Charlie's evil spirit creeps in and hands out the ultimate test of survival." Movie is a bit similar to Stupid Games, in the sense the group plays a spooky game, "Charlie, Charlie," and it backfires on them. Once it goes wrong, the horror starts building up. Overall, the movie was just OK. The ending leaves an opening for future sequels, but I don't think those will follow. Not as bad as I expected, but not too good either. 2 out of 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 7/5.
• The cast includes Tom Sizemore and a small appearance by Eric Roberts, so hey, worth taking a chance watching this I figured. Turns out they are just there briefly and never seen after their scenes again.
• Amityville Cop (2021. Horror). Plot description: "A city haunted by a bloody past has led to the emergence of some serious police brutality. As bodies pile up, two detectives seek to stop a demonic force that is terrorizing the neighborhood." Just another of the many spin offs that the original Amityville movie has inspired. The movie is hokey as heck; Detective Miller (Jason Toler) is played as the fast talking Black cop always in trouble and trying to talk his way out of it, making jokes. A bit irritating to be honest. The rest of the acting is pretty average. . . barely. To be honest this had potential. It could have nodded a bit to films like Maniac Cop; it could have done its own horror thing. Instead most of the movie the characters are just talking, and we barely see the monster cop. Note this is a one-hour movie, and if we get about 20 minutes total of any horror, it is a miracle. It could have been a semi-decent cop horror film, but instead it is just boring for most of the film. It feels like wasted potential, even on a low budget. 1 out of 5 stars. ViaTubiTv. Watched 7/5.
• Don't Log Off (2025. Horror. Mystery. Thriller). Plot description: "When Sam vanishes mid-video call, her friends race to uncover what happened. As they dig online, they vanish one by one. A sinister force is at play - can they solve the mystery before they're next?" The setting is in 2020, in the midst of the COVID lockdowns, which is why they are all getting together via video. The movie pretty much takes place on their video calling, so you get to see it from their computer and device screens. If you are not into shaky camera work, this may not be for you. There is some suspense as the first two vanish after going to check in on Sam, but to be honest, their social media interactions are more annoying than any suspense from the disappearances. It does not help them that they keep thinking it is one of them pulling a prank rather than realizing there is a serious problem. Naturally, this is a horror movie with some fairly inane people, so they keep doing dumb choices. Oh, and when one of them finally calls the cops, the cops are pretty useless and refuse to come thinking it is a prank. So the movie keeps dragging as they guys just need to figure it out on their own, and they do so with some help from Google, online maps and street views. By the time we get to the end, it just rushes and ends. Not a bad premise, but overall fairly boring, it drags, and the suspense is just not that great. Certainly nothing really horrifying per se. You can probably skip this. 1 out 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 7/11.
• Hell Nurse (2023. Horror. Thriller). Plot description: "After a young caretaker is brutally attacked, she offers her soul to the Devil in exchange for the opportunity of revenge."  A supernatural revenge plot sounds simple enough, so I am taking a chance here. Movie has a bit of a vibe or nod to slasher films of the 1970s or so. Story itself takes place around the 70s; one way we know is the 8-tracks the crooks listen to and the TV going dark at end of evening after the national anthem. The movie takes a bit to build up to the revenge, but once it starts, it is gruesome and bloody. Special effects are not great, a bit on the cheesy side, and again, reminiscent of old films where blood splattering all over was part of the deal. This was not great, but it was better than some of the other schlock I've been watching this month. You can add that the nurse is quite easy on the eyes even as she is terrifying. Movie was OK, so I'd say 2.5 out of five stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 7/11.
• Hellblock 13 (1999. Horror). Plot description: "In a haunted death row cell block, a deranged female serial killer reads a trio of twisted tales to her executioner." The movie is from the Troma team, the folks who brought you fine films like the Toxic Avenger series. The serial killer tells the stories reading from her writings in a notebook. After the last story is told, her time is up. . . or is it? Not too bad for a small horror anthology. You get a bit of the typical Troma special effects. This is the kind of movie you might watch late at night on cable, or I guess on streaming now. I liked this one, so willing to give it 3 out of 5 stars. Watched 7/12. 
• First story is a woman who kills her children in order to be with a wealthy man. But getting away with it will not be easy. 
• Second story is about a young abused housewife living in a trailer home. When she finds out the old woman across the street may be a witch, she eventually gets the nerve to go visit her hoping to find a solution. The witch does give her a spell, and a very specific set of instructions. Will Heidi Mae be able to follow directions? 
• Third story involves a biker gang on the road to do a drug deal in Mexico. Before crossing the border, they need to stop in some small town to tend to some business or other. Soon there is a mystery when the gang leader tells the new guy they need to stop at a sacred place where other dead bikers rest. and the spirit of Big Rhonda, a now dead biker mama, watches over them. When the new guy turns out to be an undercover cop, which to be honest we can tell early on, Big Rhonda keeps the gang safe once more.
• Evangeline (2013. Horror Thriller). Plot description: "The corpse of a college freshman is resurrected by an ancient demon that lets her loose to avenge her murder at the hands of three frat brothers." I am often good for a revenge tale, so here we go with this one.  Film opens with the voice of a young girl telling about an ancient evil, which sets up the supernatural angle of the film. By the way. this is one of those movies where they pack most of the credits at the beginning, rarely a good sign. To complicate matters, in addition to the shitty frat brothers, there is a serial killer on campus; we get his flashbacks of victims between other scenes. I initially thought it was a loose end, but he eventually becomes one of Evangeline's victims. Once the frat boys leave her for dead, she sort of moves between this world and the hereafter. We get hints the demon may be in her once she comes back or at least near her. Overall, the film has some pretty surreal moments, which add some suspense and enhance the supernatural elements. The film takes its time building up Evangeline's revenge. There is violence, but not as graphic as it could be for a horror film. The emphasis is on the atmosphere. The frat boys, especially their leader, are truly evil, so we can't wait for Evangeline to lay down her justice on them. Pacing is steady, not too slow. Film could be a good selection for a horror film marathon late at night. I'd say 2.5 out of 5 as I liked it, but no big deal. Via TubiTv. Watched 7/12.
• Becoming Evil: Serial Killers of the Old West (2011. Crime. Documentary). Description: "American serial killers are hardly a phenomenon confined to the 20th and 21st centuries. The Old West was a well-known time of lawlessness. A time when serial killers stalked the mountains, prairies and deserts of North America."  The documentary defines a serial killer as "someone who kills two or more victims with a cooling off period in between, killing victims for which the killer has no empathy or remorse." Based on that definition, some Old West figures we may not think of as serial killers, at least in the modern sense, would fit the category. Documentary discusses how the time of the Old West may be a bit longer in time frame than many think. Also note that at times the sheriff or lawman could also be a serial killer depending on context, convenience, etc. The narrator has a very monotone voice, but the content overall is pretty interesting. Documentary blends in engravings, photographs, and illustrations of the time with some historical reenactments with actors. We also get some historians speak on the topic. You get both famous and lesser known stories, including at least one cannibal. If you like watching true crime series and/or western stories, you might like this. I liked it, so 3 out of 5 stars. Watched 7/18.
• Cinderella's Curse (2024. Horror. Fantasy). Plot description: "Desperate Cinderella summons her fairy godmother from an ancient flesh-bound book, seeking revenge on her evil stepmother and stepsisters who abuse and torment her daily." If all you know about Cinderella is Disney's very sanitized version, well, consider this your warning before you watch this. The  opening gruesome scene sets up a bit of how the ancient book works. Once we get to Cinderella and the family, the mom and the sisters are as evil as they come. To be honest, you can't wait until the upcoming revenge starts because they will be highly deserving. Prince Charming, named Levin here, is a serious asshole too by the way. The movie takes a while to the revenge we know is coming, 50 minutes in, out of an hour and 20 minutes movie, and by this point, we are more than ready to see some serious retribution. There are some gruesome moments, but to be honest not as hard as the film may suggest. And her revenge does come at a price, as often revenge does. Special effects were decent enough. Story does seem a bit long since we don't get the revenge until the movie is almost over. I'd say, however, the ending is quite satisfying, and may be worth watching the movie just to get there. 3 out of 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 7/18.

 

Television and other series (basic show information links via Wikipedia unless noted otherwise). Some of these come in DVD from the public library. Others may be via YouTube, which, as noted before, I keep finding all sorts of other old shows in it, often full episodes:

• Gangsters: America's Most Evil (True crime. Documentary). Plot description: "documentary television series that airs on Reelz which profiles notorious criminals whose crimes involve murder, drug trafficking, racketeering, and human trafficking." Series has 6 seasons out. Tubi has the first two seasons, and I found the rest over at the Roku Channel, so I will likely catch up over there. 
• This month I managed to watch most of the first season. I will be watching on to the second season next month and see how far I get. The interesting thing about this series is that most of the criminals are not big "celebrities," or at least criminals you often hear about in other documentary series. 
• The Occult History of the Third Reich (1990. Documentary. Mini series). Plot description: "Documents both the influences of alternative belief systems on the Nazi ideology and Hitler's personal philosophy, and the history and development of the ideas and symbols that would be used along with eugenicist racial politics to perpetrate the murder and oppression of millions during World War II." I found this casually on YouTube, and it seemed interesting. The series has four episodes: Documentary mainly used historical footage and narration to tell the story. It also makes very good use of music at different moments to inspire fear and emphasize the Nazi horrors. This is the kind of old but good documentary the History Channel used to feature before they became a reality TV and pseudohistory dump. 
• Enigma of the Swastika. Episode focuses a bit closer on the symbol of the swastika and how it went to become the Nazi symbol and associated with evil. Turns out Madame Blavatsky had a role in the early days; her writings about the Aryan race were integrated into Nazi ideology. Turns also out some of the Nazi symbols came from Norse runes which they either used outright or modified. An interesting detail is that the swastika, for a while at least, was used in other places like Great Britain. 
• The SS: Blood and Soil. This episode looks at the rise of the SS, and how it formed around occult myths and eugenics to be Nazi Germany's Aryan exemplar. Again, Madame Blavatsky gets a mention, in part for her idea of the Great (White) Elect. 
• Heinrich Himmler. Interesting detail is mention of how the United States in the 1920s or so had put eugenics into practice including compulsory sterilization, in many cases by law. The Germans in that time looked up to the United States regarding eugenics. This episode is supposedly about Himmler, but it is more a look at the eugenic policies of Nazi Germany, focusing on the SS. Kind of feels more like a part two of the SS episode. Himmler is mentioned in terms of policies he put in place or some occult practices, but this is not a biographical piece. Still interesting. 
• Adolph Hitler.  A good part of this episode looks at the German eugenic policies, which were inspired by the United States eugenics movement and practices. The book I am reading as of this post, The Shortest History of Eugenics, looks at these eugenics policies and acceptance by the scientific community. A detail that not many histories of the Nazi regime mention are the eugenic policies of euthanasia for what were considered defective children. The horrifying element, aside from killing children, is how the party got the people to go with it, leading to what became known as the Final Solution.

 

Book Review: Pagan Curiouser

Debra DeAngelo, Pagan Curiouser: a beginner's guide to nature, magic & spirituality. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn, 2026. 

 

Genre: nonfiction

Subgenre: Paganism, inspirational, guides, spirituality

Format: e-book galley

Source: Edelweiss Plus

 

This book is a guide for folks interested in becoming a practicing pagan. Paganism is a very broad umbrella, so the author keeps the focus a bit broad, so you can build up a joyful, meaningful, and unique path that is yours. The book is a follow up to her previous work, Pagan Curious (link to my review). If you read the previous book, and you are still working on your pagan path, you will want to read this one. However, having read both, I'd say you can read this one just fine without reading the previous one. I personally liked this one better. 

The book is arranged in three major sections with 15 chapters. The material builds up from self to your surroundings to the magical path. The book also features a bibliography for sources cited, which you can use for further reading. The bibliography includes books and online resources. There are some academic online sources listed, but most of the online items are popular resources. In addition, the book features activities for readers that are conveniently listed in the front of the book. 

I found this book more interesting to read than the previous one. It also is a bit more focused. You get the chapters with the lessons, and each chapter ends with activity. For the most part, the activities are not difficult. Many of them don't even require materials other than yourself willing to do a little work. I found the book easy to read. 

If you are starting on the path from scratch, this book is a pretty good option. The content is a bit broad and general to allow readers to decide how to build their paths. You can take what works for you, leave the rest. You can explore and experiment, then decide what you want in your practice or not. While the author does mention elements of her own pagan practice, it does not mean you have to follow her practices. View them as examples of things you could do. I'd say if a specific element or practice calls your attention, do your research and see where it leads. 

Overall, I really like this book. I think it is a good entry point for folks interested in a pagan path, including those who want magic in their craft. I would recommend it for libraries that collect pagan and esoteric materials, especially public libraries. For academic libraries if they already have strong collections in paganism and/or religion, this could be a good selection. If you have students curious about paganism, this book may be a good selection. 

The book may be optional for pagans who are well settled in their paths and crafts. It may be a bit basic for them. For me, still learning, it's a good resource. 

4 out of 5 stars. 

 

Additional reading notes: 

On pagan's connection to the world: 

"Pagans are deeply connected to the natural world. We don't view it as something we are in,  like visitors passing through. We aren't in nature, we're part of it. Protecting the environment is a fundamental Pagan value. Reverence for our planet and a deep, spiritual connection to nature is the foundation of a Pagan life. Making choices that harm Gaia is Pagan sacrilege" (113, emphasis in original). 

 

A definition of mindfulness: 

"Mindfulness means being completely aware of what you're doing. Being mentally present and fully experiencing that exact moment rather than going through the motions while your faraway mind whirls and swirls in a mental multiverse. It means being here now" (36, emphasis in original).   

 

On the pagan connection with Spirit: 

"Pagans strive to keep our connection with Spirit open and flowing. We recognize Spirit expressing itself in our lives and hearts, and we embrace a Spiritual life" (62).

 

Pagans, on their values shaping their spirituality. This one resonated with me a bit: 

"You aren't obligated to keep legacy values. You're a Pagan now. Wipe all that spiritual sludge away and declare your own values. Going forward, you will decide which values to keep and which to jettison. You will shape your own spiritual values from now on. Those who gifted you with those legacy values may get very upset when you choose a different direction, because someone who says no challenges their beliefs and makes them feel insecure. Step away anyway.

When faced with objection or resistance, stand spiritually firm. Make your spiritual boundaries robust and unassailable. You aren't required to defend or debate your values to anyone, unless you want to.  You don't owe anyone an explanation, and you aren't required to attend every argument you're invited to. You can just say I understand that you disagree and drop it" (66, emphasis in original).

 

If you are working with a deity, respect is essential: 

"Respect is the foundation of a relationship with a deity. Become a perpetual student of their lore and history. Become fascinated with that deity, and the rest will follow" (70). 

 

I found the section on "Pagan Self-Defense" an important read. It feels like the kind of thing that established pagans take for granted, but they fail to tell the new folks. As I am writing this I feel that this book at times demystifies paganism for newcomers. This is not unlike some of the work I do demystifying academia for some of my students. So there I go again finding similarities between paganism, or at least my pagan path, and librarianship, or at least my path in the profession. Maybe I need to write on that a bit more sometime, but let us not digress now. 

On another side note, the passage to be honest, made me briefly reconsider if I should take down the small altar I keep in my work office. While it has not been an issue, there are moments I wish I was a bit less visible as a pagan because one never knows what may or not happen. For now, it can stay up. At any rate, people do have to step into my office and look at the back to see it. Most folks who visit my office either stay near the office entrance or sit in the consult area in front of my office, so no big deal. 

On an additional side note, my talk last spring at the campus Spiritual Seekers group I am sure added to my visibility, but I did walk into that voluntarily; the chaplain did ask nicely. But that is another thought for another time. 

 

Back to notes from the book, on the power of silence, which is something I find myself embracing more best I can: 

"Staying silent is a key principle of the Witches' Pyramid: To Know, To Will, To Be Silent" (183). 

On a side note, I know I've read that phrase elsewhere, but at the moment I can't recall where. 

 

Defining magic:

"At its most basic, magic is a specific goal or desire that you energetically propel to the Universe for completion by doing particular things a particular way. It is willfully directed, focused energy that results in change. Magic has three basic parts: intention, implementation, and manifestation" (187). 

 

Be specific with your magic works: 

"Don't leave too much interpretation up to Spirit, because it's wildly creative, and sometimes has a wicked sense of humor. Be specific" (191). 

As a devotee of the Cosmic Joker, learning this is a work in progress, though at times you just have to accept and embrace the Divine Humor. 

And speaking of the Divine Humor: 

"Bad shit happens. How we interpret and deal with that is what separates magical people from everyone else-- we're confident that Spirit diverted as much tragedy as possible. A magical, Pagan life doesn't mean everything will be charmed and wonderful from now on. You'll celebrate life's sweetness, but when it sours, you'll have extra coping skills: your magic and your Pagan perspective. Magic is available all the time and provides comfort when things are difficult and dark. We'll embrace joy and positivity, but when the water gets choppy, you can cling to your trust in Spirit. You're never truly alone. Spirit is always there. Always. 

Trust that the Universe has your back too" (198).

 

A reminder, do the work and practice: 

"Magic is a skill, and like any other skill from calligraphy to woodworking to juggling, you only become proficient with practice" (251).     

 

 

Book qualifies for the 2026 Netgalley/Edelweiss Reading Challenge: 

 

Book Review: The Outcast Dead

Graham McNeill, The Outcast Dead. Nottingham, UK: Black Library, 2011.  ISBN: 9781849700863.

Genre: Science Fiction

Series: Horus Heresy, Book 17

Format: e-book

Source: I own this one  

 

To be honest, I was already feeling lukewarm about this novel, but since I am reading through the series, I picked it up. It just did not really grab me, and it felt like a drag to read. 

Astropath Kai Zulane is sent back to Terra to rehabilitate from trauma. He arrives at the City of Sight, basically the headquarters of the Astra Telepathica. The Imperium may officially dislike psykers, but they sure depend on them and use them regularly for various things including space communications and navigation. The Astra Telepathica is a faction we rarely read about, and we are not going to get much about them in this book either. 

Kai is just not an interesting character, and to be honest I did not care for him much. I did not care that much for the other characters either nor their machinations. A lot is going as they are just finding out about Horus's betrayal. 

The other big event is the imperial arrest of the Crusader Host, an honor guard composed of members of all the 18 Space Marine legions. Since some of them of legions now considered traitors, they just arrest the whole group to be sure. A small group of them manages to escape, and they take Kai with them since he has a crucial secret in his mind. 

The novel just does not feel coherent. Also, as I mentioned, it is just not that interesting. The parts about the commoners eeking out a living around the imperial palace are not that much better either. Overall it's a cast of characters I found that I did not care for them. One ironic note, if you will, is that Roxanne reads history books that tell of poverty and inequality in the Old Earth (i.e. our time now); her tutors tell her this is all in the past, but given the slums now she can see nothing has really changed. 

This one that folks can skip and not miss much. Completists will likely read it anyway, so keep the expectations low. I would not recommend this. 

On a side note, McNeill's record for me in Horus Heresy books is mixed. I liked Mechanicum and Fulgrim well enough, but I did not care for Thousand Sons nor this book. (Links go to my reviews.) Still, I will be picking up the next book in the series down the road: Deliverance Lost. 

 

1 out of 5 stars.  

 

Book qualifies for the following 2026 Reading Challenge: