“From a Moon Books perspective, Every Day Magic is not just another Pagan title. When we started Moon Books, more than five years ago, one of the critical success factors for us would be the extent to which we were able to engender a community of authors, both those writing best-sellers and those who wished to offer contributions to anthologies, who at times would come together and produce books exactly like this…” – Trevor Greenfield
From deity bios to religious observances, recipes to poems, formal holidays to commemorative feasts—Every Day Magic: A Pagan Book of Days (Moon Books, Edited by Lucya Starza) is a delightful little anthology filled with unusual lore, familiar myths and the birth/death days of myriad mystical figures.
Festivals both ancient and modern are found with this book, as are fun divination techniques, illumination of sacred symbols, simple crafts, easy spells, practical rituals and uplifting prayers.
Quite a few of the fascinating contributions were off-the-beaten-path for me—unfamiliar, yet inviting further exploration and contemplation.
With 366 separate entries from over 40 Pagan authors (including yours truly), readers may choose to go through the book day-by-day—or pick a passage or two at random for daily edification and experimentation.
Here are but a few examples of what you’ll find in Every Day Magic: A Pagan Book of Days:
January 30 – Imbolc Potato Chowder by Amie Ravenson
February 19 – Hachinohe Enburi by Melusine Draco
April 2 – International Children’s Book Day/Hans Christian Andersen’s Birthday by Lucya Starza
April 17 – Money Spell by Rev. Su Windsong
May 21 – Nost-na-Lothion by Calantirniel
June 29 – Feast Day in Honor of Papa Legba by Rachel Patterson
August 22 – Paper Mache Guardians by Mary Burkett
October 2 – Arthur Edward Waite’s Birthday by Robert Scott
November 17 – Blod Monath by Carol Tierney
December 6 – Feast Day of St. Nicholas by Imelda Almqvist
If you’re curious about my contributions, they are: St. Expeditus (April 19), Joan of Arc (May 30), Portunes (August 17), Mundus Ritual of Ceres (August 24), Hungry Ghost Festival (September 5), Lucia’s Day (December 13), Christmas Eve (December 24) and Rasputin’s Death (December 29).
Editor Lucya Starza, who thought up this great idea of a book and then corralled dozens of authors from all over the world to contribute, deserves high praise for her efforts: not only were they voluntary, but she’s also donating all royalties from this anthology back to Moon Books—specifically to cultivate, and publish, new voices in the field of Pagan writing.
My only complaint about Every Day Magic: A Pagan Book of Days? I wish it were longer! But that’s the point of this book: offering seekers and mystics of all stripes brief, manageable and easily-digestible tidbits designed to inform, and enhance, their Pagan path—all through the year.
-- Janet