Animal Magick
D.J. Conway
Llewellyn Books
Nonfiction, Spirituality
****
DESCRIPTION: Cultures around the world have long known of the spiritual importance of animals. Familiars, helper animal entities either of the physical or astral plane, are part of most magickal systems, and only as such systems were discredited were familiars turned into demonic beasts. This book outlines the important religious and symbolic aspects of many animals, including some mythical creatures who never existed in the physical world (but seem quite real in the astral realms), and hints on how to use their energies in one's own spiritual and/or magickal pursuits.
REVIEW: Similar to her Dancing With Dragons and Magical, Mystical Creatures books (published after this volume), Conway provides interesting information that even readers not inclined to magic (such as myself) can enjoy on their own level. Some creatures were lumped together that perhaps shouldn't have been, and several animals received less attention than they could have, but in a book like this it would be impossible to include everything. Since I do not now and most likely never will attempt to summon animal guides, I cannot speak for the effectiveness of the suggested rituals and invocations. I read these things primarily for inspiration for as-yet-unwritten stories.
You might also enjoy:
Animal-Speak (Ted Andrews, Nonfiction - An extensive look at power animals)
The Little Giant Encyclopedia Of Spells & Magic (The Diagram Group, Nonfiction - Historical spells and magic traditions)
Living Wisdom: Animal Spirits (Nicholas J. Saunders, Nonfiction - An examination of what different animals mean to different cultures, and why)
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Dancing with Dragons
D.J. Conway
Llewellyn Books
Nonfiction, Spirituality
****
DESCRIPTION: Dragons are more than just a creation of human imagination; they are real creatures, existing on an astral plane, and can be very potent allies to the modern magick-worker. This book outlines the characteristics of various dragon subspecies and certain methods of invoking their ageless power and wisdom, all gleaned from the author's own many-year relationship with the dragons.
REVIEW: I admit I picked this one up mainly for my collection of dragon-related things. That said, I cannot judge how accurate the magical portions of this book are. I have always considered such things as dragons and faeries - even angels and demons - to be one's subconscious interpreting the energies/entities one is encountering. Believe in dragons and you will see a dragon; likewise for faeries, angels... maybe even extraterrestrials! So, while I cannot say I honestly believe that actual scaled and clawed denizens lurk beneath the skin of the physical world, I would never dismiss those who claim to encounter and interact with them as "crazies." That would be roughly the equivalent of discounting nuclear physics because I've never seen an atom split, or never understood the formulas involved. That said, I found this to be a decent book, giving some basic tips for identifying dragons and calling on them for aid. It is a fairly thorough explanation of the subject, even if I don't know that I'll ever attempt dragon magick myself. If nothing else, I found it interesting reading, and it certainly provided ample food for the imagination.
You might also enjoy:
Tales of Great Dragons (J. K. Anderson, YA Nonfiction - Dragon myths from around the world)
Dragonlore (Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk, Nonfiction - Myths and traditions ancient and modern about dragons and their kin)
The Flight of Dragons (Peter Dickinson, Fiction - Speculation on a hypothetical real dragon's biology and life cycle)
A Diversity of Dragons (Anne McCaffrey, Fiction - The author examines the many dragons of myth and modern story);
The Book of Fabulous Beasts (Joseph Nigg, Nonfiction - The classical origins and evolution of many fabulous beasts, including dragons)
Dracopedia: A Guide to Drawing the Dragons of the World (William O'Connor, Art - A dragon drawing book which invents and explains many imaginative dragon varieties)
Dragons - Truth, Myth, and Legend (David Passes, YA Nonfiction - Dragon lore and myths)
Dragons: A Natural History (Dr. Karl Shuker, Nonfiction - Dragon myths from around the world)
Dragonology books (Dugald A. Steer "editor", YA Fiction - A 19th century "dragonologist" discusses the dragons of the world)
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Magickal, Mystical Creatures
D.J. Conway
Llewellyn Books
Nonfiction, Spirituality
*****
DESCRIPTION: Since the beginning of time, innumerable creatures have crawled, flown, swam, or slithered from the depths of the human subconscious.From the well-known dragons and unicorns to the obscure chimeras and winged serpents, this book describes how many of these beings existed in days of yore, as real in their own way as more mundane creatures. The author also describes how tapping into the symbolic energies embodied by these beings can aid those seeking greater knowledge and power in the astral levels.
REVIEW: The majority of beings covered in this book are new to me, at best being only touched on in other bestiary-type volumes I own. Conway touches on all sorts of obscure creatures, good and bad, though she also mentions the more well-known beings. This is a very interesting book, even if I was only reading it for my love of fantastic creatures and not as one seeking to summon their energies.
You might also enjoy:
Fabulous Beasts (Malcom Ashman, Nonfiction - A fantastic bestiary illustrated by Ashman)
Mythical Beasts (Alexandra Bonfante-Warren, Nonfiction - Mythology bestiary)
A Natural History of the Unnatural World ("The Cryptozoological Society of London", Fiction - Fabulous and cryptozoological creatures)
The Flight of Dragons (Peter Dickinson, Fiction - A speculative look at how a biologically-probably dragon might live)
The Big Book of Dragons, Monsters, and Other Mythical Creatures (Ernst and Johanna Lehner, Nonfiction - Fabulous animal art)
The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures (John & Caitlin Matthews, Nonfiction - Fabulous beasts, spirits, and beings from around the world)
The Book of Fabulous Beasts (Joseph Nigg, Nonfiction - Mythological animal lore)
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