Book Review: Magical Destinations of the Northeast

Review: Magical Destinations of the Northeast 

Five Stars

Photo by Amy Blackthorn

From the back cover: Every state in America has sacred sites―places that change you, heal you, and make you feel alive. Magical Destinations of the Northeast details more than 300 spiritual destinations perfect for meditation, magic, and just plain fun. This hands-on guidebook also includes spells and rituals and provides tips for the magical uses of official state plants, flowers, gems, minerals, and trees.

There are pockets of magic to be found everywhere―places that make you stop in your tracks as powerful energies speak to your soul. This book is filled with awe-inspiring destinations, featuring little-known gems, natural landscapes, and manmade creations, as well as Native American and African American heritage sites. With everything from witch’s temples to Druid circles, spiritualist communities to mysterious stones, this book will make your next trip a truly magical journey.

Features more than 300 destinations in:

• Maine
• Vermont
• New Hampshire
• Massachusetts
• Rhode Island Connecticut
• District of Columbia
• Maryland
• Delaware Pennsylvania
• New Jersey 

• New York

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     Can I tell you how much I really enjoyed reading this?  Cover to cover.  I've been following the exploits of Natalie Zaman, the Wandering Witch, for what seems like, ever.  Natalie and I both wrote for Thorn Magazine for a while, so we'd run into each other at functions and so when I read her column I was always able to read her adventures in her voice.  

     This book reads just the same.  A warm voice, with a conspiratorial tone that says, "I know where all the best secrets are."  She really does know them, hidden nooks in DC to the forests of Maine.  They tell their secrets to Natalie and she lets us in on the secrets in this book. 

     I'll admit, I've never read a travel book all the way through before.  The ones I'v picked up in the past were simply to thumb through, glance at the town where I was and pick a spot.  I think that's changed after reading this.  What incredible finds am I missing by not making plans when I travel?

     I love to travel, but I hate travel plans.  I like to wing it.  I'm the kind of traveler (never tourist) who wants to immerse myself in wherever I find myself.  I'll throw a bag in my Xterra, or on the back of my motorcycle and go where the road bends.  So reading and reviewing a travel book almost seemed anathema.  

      This isn't a travel book.  Or rather, it's not like anything you're used to.  This is part diary of the journey that is life.  It is part spell book.  It is also a really fantastic road trip story, waiting to happen.  

     "Oh my god, remember that time...?"  Yes.  We do. Starting in Washington DC and heading North, by Northeast. 

     This book has the feel of a well loved map in the back of the family van.  Only instead of merely creasing with age, it points out a wide variety of sacred places for friends, family and loved ones to carve out new memories.  There's even a little Witch guiding you across the bottom of the pages as she flies from the far left, to far right, the further north you get.  

     Inside you'll find not just locations, (what fun would that be?) you'll find people.  You'll find yourself.  You'll find history.  

1. Enchanting Emblems- The official stuff.  The state bird, bug, rock or other item that really will help you get a feel for the state.
2. Bewitching Tidbits- You know you want the juicy gossip!  What's the history worth knowing? Which places are really haunted, versus just play for tourists.
3. Magical Monuments- Not just the ones we're told to check out.  Sacred spots for statues too.
4. Sacred Sites and Magical Spots- Public temples, and other sacred spots that are welcome to respectful public. The list of festivals in these states is impressive.  I've already added several to my calendar! 
5. Map Some More Magic- On site fun! Other things of interest that are close by.  
6. Find a...- If you don't live in the Northeast, how you can bring some magic nearby.  Delaware has a lavender farm that I have visited previously, but there are lavender farms all over the country.  My friend Julie tells me there are some spectacular ones in Washington state.  
7. Stop By for a Spell- There's a spell, a meditation or a story for each state! 

    What you don't see is too many shops. While they are an important part of the communities surrounding these sacred sites, the sad reality of the internet age is that it can be even more difficult for brick and mortar stores to stay open.  The turnover rate is such that even if Ms. Zaman triple checked the store's info, by the time the book came to print, 1/3 of those shops could be closed. So absolutely, check around the places you'll be visiting, because there's probably a witchy shop near there that could really use your tourism dollars. 

     One of the things that I really adore about this book, isn't just that it contains history, lore, love and workings.  It is the fact that it lends itself to being a tour guide for my own backyard.  There are plenty of places in this book that I either haven't heard of before this, or were too busy to stop and check out.  Now that I now they're there, I'll relish not only playing wandering witch on my own, but planning road trips with friends. 

     There are still a few states in this book that I haven't explored yet, and Magical Destinations reminds me that there are plenty of unexplored spaces to roam!

     If you don't have a local store that stocks Llewellyn's publications, you can find a copy on Amazon.  

https://www.amazon.com/Magical-Destinations-Northeast-Oddities-Monuments/dp/0738747904/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475991353&sr=8-1&keywords=magical+destinations+of+the+northeast

Win your own AUTOGRAPHED copy!

Photo by Amy Blackthorn

The author has given me two copies to give away!  One copy will be given away here.  Simply share this blog with your friends, and let us know you did.  Extra entries for every social media you hit.  Facebook? Check!  Twitter?  Check! Instagram? Check! Google Plus? Check!  

The other copy will be given away on the snarky, fun Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/ThugWitchcraft/ Just LIKE the page and Share; come back here to tell me you did!

Deadline for Likes, Comments and Shares is October 17th at 11:59 pm Eastern. 

Feel free to follow me on Twitter @morriganswitch and instagram too! http://www.instagram.com/amyblackthorn/

*Full disclosure- I've read this book prior to its release.  I took the author photo. http://www.facebook.com/AmyBlackthornPhoto/

Using the terminal powers of Samhain to process trauma.

Using the terminal powers of Samhain to process trauma.

*Originally written by me for Samhain Sirens.  Please see the incredible work by the rest of the Sirens here: http://samhainsirens.blogspot.com/

Samhain.  How many times have we seen it?  Local papers do a special interest story on the witches at Samhain. “Samhain (pronounced Sow-in) means summer’s end.”  It’ll then go on to make endearing noises about how witchcraft  has seen a resurgence in x number of years and how we’re ‘totally not devil worshippers”.  They’ll be sure to include a photo of a non-threatening woman in black (bonus points if they can talk her into a pointy hat!) with a big smile and usually at least five candles.  It’s beyond formulaic at this point.  I’ll admit it’s better than the late 80’s and early 90’s formula of making a genuine effort to communicate on the part of the practitioner, into a spookily lit punch line about ‘the weirdoes’.  

The part these outlets miss is the END in ‘summer’s end’.  I’m sure it’s easier to rest on the finely carved narrative that sensationalizes our beloved dead.  Other cultures and religions have festivals surrounding loved ones who have died, but this is so much juicer because you can include the word, “witch”.  

  Instead of spending our Octobers waiting for stories to validate what we already know, that we’re just human, and trying to make a difference in this world, let us focus on our own endings.  We end things all the time.  Many folks make new year’s resolutions in January for the Julian calendar date.  We avoid the talk of ending things with language surrounding the new.  We fawn over the idea of birthing a new year, forgetting that birth is the other side of death.  

We understand the year as the Wheel of the Year, admitting that time passes.  However circles have no beginning, and no end.  It makes it easier to gloss over the ending portion because we know that there will always be another.  The only flaw with this thinking is that we fail to acknowledge the passing of the current, and the understanding that we aren’t guaranteed another anything, day, week, month or year.  

This time of year is important for releasing the things in our lives who have had their time in the sun, and are ready to die.  Samhain is the perfect time to process our trauma and leave it in the past, before moving on to that shiny and new we look forward to.  Trauma is our brain and body reacting to the painful events in our lives.  Our lives and our years have trauma, insidious events that color our world. 

Using this time of year as a catalyst toward beneficial change is a great blessing.  It needn’t be something as traumatic as a death, a car accident or a physical altercation to cause lasting change in our lives that weighs us down.  Dealing with an abusive boss, ending of a friendship, relationship or dealing with financial worries are all stressful and traumatic.  Any event that leaves you overwhelmed and feeling alone counts.  Just because you may not have experience a death or sudden loss doesn’t mean that you aren’t dealing with things that are difficult.  Life isn’t a contest.  It can feel selfless to worry about the suffering of others close to us because they’re dealing with intense emotions, but don’t let that worry keep you from processing your own emotions.  

It’s time to take time to look at your trauma.  Anyone who promises a “quick and easy ritual to release trauma” is at the very least, pulling your leg.  It’s not easy, but you are worth it.  This is all about your comfort level and ability to deal with the past.  It may be as simple as lighting candles and incense and looking at yourself in the mirror to talk about the things you need to let go of, before moving into the new year.  I will be taking a ritual bath with herbs and oils and examining my scars to acknowledge all of the things I’ve overcome this year.  Some will decide to attend counseling, good for you!  The stigma of getting help is decades past its time to go.  Acknowledging that the events of your life are best dealt with, with someone in your corner is a great step.  

The important part of this process is using the terminal powers of Samhain to process that trauma.  Too often we see carrying the baggage of our traumatic past as a badge of honor.  “See?  I survived!”  Remember, the baggage is weighing you down, now allowing you to celebrate your victory.  The baggage come after the trauma, it’s not proof that the trauma happened.  It feels amazing to say we’ve survived the horrible things that happened to us.  It can be difficult to look that pain in the eyes.  Being able to put down the bags and still honor the survivor in you is the message of this Samhain.  

You have dealt with a lot this year, and over a lifetime of years.  You are Brave.  You are Loved.  You are worth protecting, defending, and loving.  I hope the end of this year finds you feeling stronger than you’ve ever felt before.  You deserve it.  You are magic.  

For more information on dealing with emotional trauma please visit

http://ptsd.about.com/od/selfhelp/a/CopingTriggers.htm

and resources for finding help when you can’t afford a therapist

http://greatist.com/grow/resources-when-you-can-not-afford-therapy 

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Rev. Amy Blackthorn does double duty in life as both a witch and ‘personal tea shaman’ but also as a personal defense coach.  She got her black belt in April 2002, and has worked as a certified firearms instructor, and has helped people reclaim their sense of self and safety since January of 2010.  She has been described as an "arcane horticulturalist" for her understanding of Green Witchcraft, her work as a Plant Spirit Oracle and her history of teaching hoodoo and the creation of herbal remedies.  Amy has 24 years in Paganism and various magical traditions. Amy started her formal schooling in horticulture, herbalism, and agriculture more than sixteen years ago, and somehow all of that higher education didn’t stamp out her love for the arcane, occult and mysterious. She has taught classes from Maryland to Toronto, Canada and out to Arizona. She has been called on to act as a Media liaison for ABC television, and the Sci-Fi Channel.  Her interviews have appeared in the Associated Press, Baltimore Sun,BankRate.com, the Boston Globe, the Huffington Post,  Stamford Advocate and the Connecticut Post in matters of alternative religions.  Amy has been an active member of her local religious communities for more than sixteen years.  Amy uses her plant knowledge to create tea recipes from old hoodoo oil recipes. You can view Amy's tea collection at her website http://blackthornhoodooblends.com and like her page on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/BlackthornHoodooBlends