The January New Moon Is Out--Check Your Inbox!

For those of you who currently subscribe to our email newsletter for booksellers, The Moon, you may have noticed a few changes.

We've streamlined the look, included new features, and christened it with a new moniker: The New Moon. As with this blog, our goal is to really connect with you, our selling partners, each month and offer support, guidance, and resources with the aim of helping you grow and thrive in this ever-changing market.

Our January 2014 issue of the New Moon was mailed this morning. This issue includes:
-Banishing the Post-Holiday Blues
-Shelftalkers (The Wizard and the Witch; A Witch's World of Magick; Forgive and Be Free; and The Essential Enochian Grimoire)
-February New Releases
-Llewellyn's 2014 Winter Catalog
-Indie Stores' Top Five Picks
-And Much More!

If you did not receive a copy in your email inbox, you can also view it here: The New Moon, January 2014 Issue.

You can also visit our website to subscribe to The New Moon, ensuring that it reaches you each month (please note that you will need to log in/register to be able to join our mailing list).

The December New Moon Is Out--Check Your Inbox!

For those of you who currently subscribe to our email newsletter for booksellers, The Moon, you may have noticed a few changes.

We've streamlined the look, included new features, and christened it with a new moniker: The New Moon. As with this blog, our goal is to really connect with you, our selling partners, each month and offer support, guidance, and resources with the aim of helping you grow and thrive in this ever-changing market.

Our December 2013 issue of the New Moon was mailed this morning. This issue includes:
-3 Ways to Make Each Moment Count This Holiday Season
-Shelftalkers (Spiritual Pregnancy; Daily Enlightenments; Tarot Draconis; and Life in Transition)
-January New Releases
-Llewellyn's 2014 Winter Catalog
-Indie Stores' Top Five Picks
-And Much More!

If you did not receive a copy in your email inbox, you can also view it here: The New Moon, December 2013 Issue.

You can also visit our website to subscribe to The New Moon, ensuring that it reaches you each month (please note that you will need to log in/register to be able to join our mailing list).

3 Ways to Make Each Moment Count This Holiday Season

The holidays are upon us, and during the hustle and bustle of the season, we can lose our patience, our tempers, or even (temporarily, any way) our sanity. Why not make this holiday season different? This year, when we are confronted with a stressful situation or simply another plate overflowing with food, take a step back and make each moment one of grounding and transformation. Regardless of the challenge or stress, here are three ways to pause, evaluate the situation, and make each moment count——for you.

Servet Hasaan (The Intuitive Heart of Romance, 2011) has a new book in January, Life in Transition. A three-part roadmap for reinventing yourself by uncovering the gifts that emerge from every situation of loss or change, Life in Transition teaches you to embrace each situation (using your intuition as your guide) and realize the opportunities that each challenge brings———re-inventing yourself into a stronger person in the process. One method for making the moment count (by healing while in the moment) Hasan presents is to:  

1. Have an Attitude of Gratitude.
Is the store out of the item you wanted to purchase for a gift? Did the turkey for your dinner party come out overdone? In these moments of frustration———whether large or small———pause and be grateful for what is right at that moment, rather than what is wrong. Give a small prayer of thanks for the fact that you have family and friends for whom to purchase gifts, money in your wallet to do so, and the ability and resources to create culinary delights (even if a little singed). As the author points out, "Your mind can only have one thought at a time. Gratitude is the single most important tool for turning negative thoughts into positive ones."

Another new book for January is Daily Enlightenments, by Nathalie W. Herrman. This fabulous book has an entry for each day of the year, giving us 365 daily devotions that we can read and meditate upon each day. Each entry is a simple reminder to improve the quality of our life, and each concludes with a "take away" summary affirmation about how to best apply the spiritual concept. In only five minutes of reading, this practical tool for overall well-being will ground you in a spiritual truth to improve yourself throughout each day. Herrman presents a second method to make each moment count:

2. Remain Flexible.
Did a guest for your dinner cancel at the last minute, or another arrive that did not RSVP? Perhaps you have to work late and must miss a date with your spouse, or one child's schedule conflicts with the other. As the author points out, the best thing to do is to remain flexible.

"Call it God, or Fate, or the Universe, or whatever you wish, but this is the force that determines the experience. We cannot begin to foresee what obstacles or inspiration we might encounter. Perhaps, we hit a roadblock. Or maybe something unexpected tempts us in a different direction. We fall in love. We suddenly become ill. We hit traffic, have an accident, or otherwise lose our momentum. Every time our plan is foiled, we suffer. We feel stopped in our tracks, frustrated. But we need not. We can embrace any sudden change in anticipated speed or direction understanding that a correction is being made; that there is some other plan beyond our plan that is meant for us; that there is somewhere else we are supposed to be."  

In December we release Mind, Body, Home, by Tisha Morris. This fabulous book discusses how and why our homes are connected energetically to our selves, and how by making small changes in our home we can make powerful changes in our lives. From foundation to roof, this essential guide correlates every component of your house with its physical, mental, or emotional counterpart in you. One of the first steps in creating change is to open ourselves to what Morris calls "the urge to purge." Which brings me to the third way we can open ourselves to the power of the moment during the holidays:

3. Get Rid of the Old to Make Space for the New.
The "urge to purge" can be a sudden, insatiable urge to clear things out of closets, basements, drawers, and in some cases, entire rooms. This is not a bad thing at all—space feels good, and extra clutter weighs us down energetically, making us more prone to be frustrated or emotional during stressful situations (such as those that the holidays can bring). And, since the holidays are notoriously a time for giving and receiving, make room for the new things that will find their way into your home this holiday season by clearing the objects and clutter that no longer serve you. This is also a good time to donate new or gently used items, as many kids and families do without during the holiday season. Tackle that one closet, drawer, or space in your house that you may have been neglecting. When you come upon something that hasn't been used in some time or that that fails to serve you in a positive manner, put it in a pile to be shared or donated. As Morris points out, "when it is time for those items to go, honor them by saying Thank You and Goodbye to each item." Not only does clearing clutter lighten our energetic load, but we also receive a positive boost from sharing with others, so this is a double-whammy of goodness. Ensure that you are open to tackling any situation by clearing your house—and at the same time, yourself.


In keeping with these themes of gratitude and holiday light, we want to extend our deepest thanks and send our sincerest blessings to everyone this holiday season. Thank you for being a part of the Llewellyn family, and may your holiday seasons shine with love and light!

The November New Moon Is Here--Check Your Inbox!

For those of you who currently subscribe to our email newsletter for booksellers, The Moon, you may have noticed a few changes.
We've streamlined the look, included new features, and christened it with a new moniker: The New Moon. As with this blog, our goal is to really connect with you, our selling partners, each month and offer support, guidance, and resources with the aim of helping you grow and thrive in this ever-changing market.

Our November 2013 issue of the New Moon was mailed this morning. This issue includes:
-Great Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Your Customers
-Shelftalkers (Mind, Body, Home; The Energy of Words; The Wisdom of Hypatia; and You Are a Medium)
-December New Releases
-Llewellyn's 2014 Winter Catalog
-Indie Stores' Top Five Picks
-And Much More!

If you did not receive a copy in your email inbox, you can also view it here: The New Moon, November 2013 Issue.

You can also visit our website to subscribe to The New Moon, ensuring that it reaches you each month (please note that you will need to log in/register to be able to join our mailing list).

Great Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Your Customers

The holiday season is upon us—a time for family, a time for friends, and a time for giving gifts. Ahh, the gift giving. Have your customers asked for suggestions for that someone who has everything? Looking for something with which to stuff your own Yuletide stockings?


Lo Scarabeo makes a number of pendulums, runes, bags, cloths, and notebooks/journals (in addition to their numerous tarot decks) that not only make great gifts, but great stocking stuffers! Look no further for the perfect, stocking-sized giftables.

Pendulums:

Pendulums are amazing tools for divination, dowsing, and answering questions relating to love, work, health, money, and much more. Not only abundantly useful, Lo Scarabeo pendulums are also eye-catchingly beautiful. Pictured at left is the Amethyst Chakra Pendulum; you can view all available pendulums here (note: you must log in to your account to view page).
















Runes:

Rune sets will bring new energy to divination, magic, and meditation practices. Sacred runic symbols have been carved into varying stones, making these exquisite runes magical as well as beautiful.  At left are the Amethyst Runes; you can view all available runes here (note: you must log in to your account to view page).








Bags:

Attractive and useful, tarot bags are an ideal way to safely store and protect valuable tarot decks. Pictured is the Universal Satin Bag; you can view all available bags here (note: you must log in to your account to view page).









Cloths:

Explore the many uses of these beautiful velvet cloths from Lo Scarabeo! Featuring embroidered symbols from various traditions, these multi-purpose cloths are ideal for altars, divination practice, ritual, meditation, and home decoration. Pictured at left is the Pentacle Velvet Cloth; you can view all available cloths here (note: you must log in to your account to view page).






Note boxes:

These decorative note boxes from Lo Scarabeo bring a touch of elegance to any living space. Perfect for home or the office, it comes with blank paper for jotting down phone messages, reminders, to do lists, and anything else on your mind. Or try using this beautiful box to store a favorite tarot deck, jewelry, photos, souvenirs, runes, or any other mementos that deserve a special place.  Pictured is the Fairy Note Box; also available are the Cat Note Box and the Pagan Note Box.






Journals:

As a dream diary, sketchbook, or Book of Shadows, these gorgeous journals are the perfect place to record ruminations, insights, and experiences. Pictured is the Draconis Journal; you can view all available journals here (note: you must log in to your account to view page).

The October New Moon Is Here--Check Your Inbox!

For those of you who currently subscribe to our email newsletter for booksellers, The Moon, you may have noticed a few changes.

We've streamlined the look, included new features, and christened it with a new moniker: The New Moon. As with this blog, our goal is to really connect with you, our selling partners, each month and offer support, guidance, and resources with the aim of helping you grow and thrive in this ever-changing market.

Our October 2013 issue of the New Moon was mailed this morning. This issue includes:
-Combating Holiday Stress with Healing Exercises and Essential Oils
-Shelftalkers (Chinese Healing Exercises; Mixing Essential Oils for Magic; To Walk a Pagan Path; and Faeries & Elementals for Beginners)
-November New Releases
-Llewellyn's 2014 Winter Catalog
-Indie Stores' Top Five Picks
-And Much More!

If you did not receive a copy in your email inbox, you can also view it here: The New Moon, October 2013 Issue.

You can also visit our website to subscribe to The New Moon, ensuring that it reaches you each month (please note that you will need to log in/register to be able to join our mailing list).

Selling to the "Mobile-Assisted" Shopper

A short while ago, I wrote a post about a GalleyCat article, in which they discussed ways that retailers might be able to combat "showrooming," the practice of shopping in brick and mortar stores to gain information and make a decision before heading online to price compare between hundreds, if not thousands, of retailers.

It is definitely very true that the retail landscape has changed with the advent of the smartphone; I don't personally believe that all consumers practice "showrooming," nor do I believe that all "showrooming" is bad (what if your online price happens to be the lowest, and that the consumer then purchases from you? Upon discovering your low online price, the customer would then be more likely to check your site—or store—first, and possibly make a purchase without comparing prices, armed with the knowledge that you will indeed have the lowest prices). That said, the practice can be (and has been) damaging to many stores. Is it possible, as GalleyCat suggests, to fight the practice?

In the September 20, 2013 issue of Shelf Awareness Today, there is information regarding a study done by Columbia Business School/Aimia that studied the shopping patterns and motivations of 3,000 "leading-edge" consumers from the US, the UK, and Canada. While the study is not limited to publishing, what they found was a bit surprising, and the study's aim was to show retailers "concrete steps they can take to entice consumers armed with mobile devices to make purchases inside their store walls." So, instead of fighting the practice of "showrooming," perhaps we should instead be helping our "mobile-assisted" shoppers in their research, so that they can be assured that they are getting the best product, at the best value, and with the best service, from us. Read the full Shelf Awareness Today article and see the report's key findings.

Combating Holiday Stress with Healing Exercises and Essential Oils

The holiday season is approaching, and, unfortunately, many of us tend to get bogged down with stress instead of enjoying the small pleasures of the season. It is far too easy to feel dragged down and drawn out while rushing to get last-minute, year-end items at work completed, or in our quest to create the perfect holiday experience for ourselves and our loved ones. In the coming months, if you feel stress and anxiety creeping up, we suggest you turn to short, simple healing exercises based in Chinese medicine, and add in an essential oil blend to center, ground, and rejuvenate your mind and body.

Steven Cardoza's new book, Chinese Healing Exercises, is filled with 88 simple exercises— that can be performed by anyone, regardless of age or health—that are based on acupressure, Taiji, Qi Gong, Daoist yoga, and other traditional Chinese health practices. Separated into chapters by parts of the body, and with a multitude of illustrations and an index of which exercises to use for common ailments ranging from arthritis to weight loss, Chinese Healing Exercises is perfect both for everyday use and for those moments when you need a little pick-me-up. Below we have included two exercises, the Temple Massage and the Face Wash and Wipe Down, that combat stress and that can be easily performed anywhere.

Temple Massage
Massage can serve many purposes. This one addresses two common ones, that of relaxing tight or tense muscles, and of encouraging qi flow. Together, that can improve local blood circulation as a bonus. Many people don’t consider that the scalp is covered in muscle. The muscles at the temples are aptly named the temporalis muscles. The main acupuncture meridian at that location is the Gall Bladder meridian. In addition to the benefits common to all these exercises, this one is useful in relieving both tension and migraine headaches.

Place the tips of two or three fingers, whichever is most comfortable, at both temples, slightly above and in front of your ears. If you press directly towards your skull, you may feel indentations in the bones there. While those are the most advantageous spots for your fingertips, don't worry if you can't find them, anything in that area will be of benefit.

Start gently at first, but gradually apply more pressure as you make small circles with your fingertips.
Use "attractive force," that is, don't let your fingers slide over the surface of your skin, but engage the muscles below. Circle your fingertips 10-12 times forward, and then the same number of times backwards. If you're prone to headaches or stress, you may feel the muscles ache under the pressure. That's not dangerous, and is in fact beneficial and necessary to relive the tension there. Don't use so much pressure that it actually hurts, though. That's never a good idea. You can repeat the cycle of 10-12 circles in each direction two or three times if you'd like.

Face Wash and Wipe Down
This is a necessary concluding step to be done after the preceding face, head, and sense organ exercises. The daily lives of most people bring excessive amounts of qi to the head, because of the overuse of the eyes in particular, reading, working at a computer, and watching television. Listening to music or lectures throughout the day, and being involved in any sort of mental work similarly brings a lot of qi to the head, and care must be taken to remove that qi, or it can, and often does, get stuck and create a variety of problems. Some of those problems may include headache, eye strain, diminished vision, ringing in the ears, cloudy thinking, memory problems, or any number of other sensory, emotional or cognitive changes. The Temple Massage exercise is designed in part to disperse any such excess, but it's not an absolute guarantee especially in someone conditioned to bring qi upwards out of daily habit, so this Wipe Down is an important final step.

Begin by rubbing your hands together until they are comfortably warm. Then rub your hands over your face as though you were washing it, using just enough pressure to move the muscles under your skin. This activates the qi and moves the blood, in no particular direction, just stirring and breaking up any pockets of stagnation that might be present. Do this for just a few minutes, being sure to wash over every area of your face, neck and head. Then place your hands at the top of your head, keep them in physical contact with your body, and wipe down the front of your face, neck, chest and belly, to just below your belly button. Bring them to the top of your head once more, and wipe down the sides of your head, over your ears, the sides of your neck, and then again down the front of your chest and belly, to just below your belly button. Bring your hands to the top of your head one last time, and wipe down the back of your head and neck, and then again down the front of your chest and belly, to just below your belly button. You can do this sequence one to three times, more or less to taste. On the last time, leave your hands just below your belly button for a minute or so, and allow your mind to gently focus and settle there. The wiping down motion will bring the qi out of your head and into your body, which is the most important part of this ending practice. Even if you can't sense qi at all, placing your hands just below your belly button and focusing your mind there will direct your qi to your dantian. To whatever extent you may be able to store qi even unconsciously, this will facilitate that process.

Add a Magical Essential Oil Blend
Scents can stimulate, inspire, and enchant us; they can also be powerful aids in creating magical change. Sandra Kynes's new Mixing Essential Oils for Magic is a straightforward guide that helps you understand how to choose the best oils for your own creative and magical mixing. Not only will you find step-by-step instructions on how to measure, mix, and assess blends, but you will also gain a full understanding of essential and carrier oils and how they work together. The book is divided into three sections: the historical background of oils and their present-day uses, an encyclopedic listing of plant profiles from which essential and carrier oils come, and thorough cross-references for the oils and their magical associations. Learn about the historical uses of scent in ritual, how to blend oils by botanical family, scent group, perfume note, or magical association, and also how to make unique mixes an integral part of your spiritual and magical practices.

Below is an essential oil recipe that Sandra shares in Mixing Essential Oils for Magic.

Grounding Essential Oil Blend
This grounding blend is perfect for use after rituals or whenever you need help bringing your energy back to a mundane level. This blend was created using the single scent group method of selecting oils (covered in Chapter 4 of Mixing Essential Oils for Magic). This blend uses three oils from the woody scent group: patchouli, cypress, and vetiver. Both cypress and patchouli are associated with grounding and vetiver with balance. All three oils are associated with protection, adding an additional sense of security. Jojoba is a good carrier oil, as it supports the grounding and centering of energy as well as balance.

Use:
Patchouli: 20 drops
Cypress: 15 drops
Vetiver: 5 drops
Jojoba: 2ml (½ teaspoon) Carrier oil

For most magical applications, your essential oil blends can be used in place of actual herbs (except for eating them) in spells, charms, and as amulets. The more you enjoy blending the oils, the more uses you will find for them.

The September New Moon Is Here--Check Your Inbox!

For those of you who currently subscribe to our email newsletter for booksellers, The Moon, you may have noticed a few changes.

We've streamlined the look, included new features, and christened it with a new moniker: The New Moon. As with this blog, our goal is to really connect with you, our selling partners, each month and offer support, guidance, and resources with the aim of helping you grow and thrive in this ever-changing market.

Our September 2013 issue of the New Moon was mailed this morning. This issue includes:
-Re-Imagining the Holidays: 6 Ways to Resist Overabundance and Create Gratitude y
-Shelftalkers (Magical Fashionista; Living a Life of Gratitude; The Old Magic of Christmas; and Embracing the Spirits)
-October New Releases
-Llewellyn's 2014 Winter Catalog
-Indie Stores' Top Five Picks
-And Much More!

If you did not receive a copy in your email inbox, you can also view it here: The New Moon, September 2013 Issue.

You can also visit our website to subscribe to The New Moon, ensuring that it reaches you each month (please note that you will need to log in/register to be able to join our mailing list).

Re-Imagining the Holidays: 6 Ways to Resist Overabundance and Create Gratitude

From Thanksgiving to New Year's, many of us get trapped in a cycle of overabundance—the state of having too much. As in: more than we can use or process. Sara Wiseman, author of Becoming Your Best Self and the new Living a Life of Gratitude, shows us how we can release these worn-out traditions and create new holiday experiences that fill us with simple abundance and gratitude.

The following entry was originally posted by Sara Wiseman in the Llewellyn Journal on September 23, 2013.

---

Are you dreading it, already?

You know…the whole shopping-gifting-cooking-cleaning-eating-drinking socializing-relatives-traveling season just ahead?

From Thanksgiving to New Year's, many of us get trapped in a cycle of overabundance—the state of having too much. As in: more than we can use. More than we can process. The cup not just full, but overflowing.

It's gotten worse in recent years, starting with Christmas decorations that go on display at Halloween to the frenzy of Black Friday. We've become a culture of excess and a society of waste, moving from the next new thing to the next…without ever taking the time to enjoy any of it. We have so much, and it's arriving so fast that we can't use or even experience it all.

This overabundance—having more than we really need—creates stress, lowers vibration, and zaps energy from mind, body and spirit.

Now, I'm all for abundance! I'm certainly not one to pass up on anything that brings pleasure or beauty or connection to my life. But when we become trapped in the cycle of overabundance—the endless circle of want, get, want, get—our lives fall out of balance.

Six Ways Overabundance Causes Holiday Stress
During the holidays, overabundance shows up in different forms. It's not just eating rich foods or excessive gifts, as you'd expect, but less obvious ways as well, including: too much socializing, complex family relationships, rigid tradition, and low vibration group thought.
Here are six areas where overabundance can create stress in your life:

1. Overabundance of Food
   Rich, sweet, fatty holiday food lowers your physical vibration, which affects mind and spirit, too. If you work in an office or with a group of people, it's hard to escape the sweets in the break room! Alcohol from frequent social events adds to this mix. Don't worry about weight gain—instead, be focused on the energetic signature of the food you eat. Is it processed? Will it make you feel good? Does your body really want it? Pay attention, and don't let the season of indulgence lower your vibration.


2. Overabundance of Gifts
   The cycle of shopping, buying, wrapping, giving, and receiving can be very stressful, even if budget is not a concern. The sheer energetic reality of involving ourselves with objects, or "stuff," can be overwhelming, especially when we understand that every object has its own frequency, vibration, or energetic signature depending on where it came from, how it was made, who made it, and so forth…this is a lot of new energy to add to your reality!

Consider your energy as you decide how or if you will give and receive gifts this year. Consider your energy if you decide to do without, do less, or give experiences or to charity instead. Once you break the gift cycle, you will be surprised how free you feel.

Overabundance of Socializing
Office parties, school events, the annual party you've gone to every year for ten years…All of this has a certain clamor of "must attend" attached to it, when in reality, you can change plans, opt out, or do something different. Don't rely on what you've always done—you're a new person now, and you may want to try something different. Reassess every year.

Introverts especially may need a lot of private time during this season; give yourself the gift of quiet and solitude.

Overabundance of Family Relationships
There's that saying: you can't go home again. And yet every holiday season, most of us continue to swim up river to our birthing place. Many times, the wounds, past hurts, and misunderstandings are still there. And because we're so busy during the holidays, we don't have time to work on our relationships with our family members. Understand that family karma is complex, and the stress of the holidays makes it more so. Be gentle with yourself and others. Have an exit strategy if things go awry. If it's just too much, opt out and try again another time.

Overabundance of Tradition
Just because you've always done it a certain way doesn't mean you have to do it that way now. This might include: going to a certain event, party, gathering, or church service; wearing certain clothes; decorating a certain way; eating certain foods; being with certain people; and so on. Break free from the rigid traditions your family has "always done" and see what else the Universe might have up its sleeve for you and yours!

Overabundance of Group Thought
Understand the power of group thought or collective soul to affect your mood. We've all seen what fear-based beliefs can do to collective thought: hate, violence, financial ruin, and war are all products of low-vibration thinking. During the holidays, mindless consumption is the culprit: everyone is stressing out on want, get, want, get. This creates enormous stress, and when this is done in the collective, everyone feels it. During this time, connect to your own higher self, God/One/All/Divine/Source, frequently and deeply. Use Thanksgiving and Solstice as markers for the season—times when you can easily dip into gratitude and joy.

The Joy of Doing it Differently: Releasing Worn Out Traditions, Creating New Experiences
For years, I traveled north for Christmas—packed up my partner, kids, dog, and a car full of gift-wrapped presents and hustled the I-5 corridor from Portland to Seattle.

The trip was no over-the-river-and-through-the-woods…everything about it was stressful! Traffic on Christmas Eve was difficult, at best. We were cooped up and restless in my mom's tiny one-bedroom condo. And we were stuck in the city, instead of out in the nature we loved. And yet, I gritted my teeth and did this trip for twenty-nine years because it was my family tradition.

Until last year, the Universe stepped in and simply said, "no."

Early that fall, I'd had two (successful) surgeries for cancer. But I was still in recovery, and by the time the holidays rolled around, the Universe started informing me, at first gently and then persistently, that I wasn't up for the trip.

What? Not go to Seattle? Not do the family trip? Really? Yet every time I asked for guidance, the answer came back loud and clear: No. Not this time. And so, after a very long family discussion, we opted out.

For the first time ever, we stayed home in Oregon for the holidays. We cooked a little food, and opened a few of gifts—inexpensive, silly things. We decorated our tree. We slept in late, and took long winter walks in the woods, and at night we bundled up in blankets on the porch and watched the winter stars move across the sky.

It was low-key, it was real, it was absolutely us…and it was one of the best Christmases ever.

Since then, I've let go of all the old ideas about how the holidays "should" be, and begun to recreate them as truly authentic celebrations—genuine expressions of gratitude for this amazing human journey. I've recognized the holidays for what they really are: holy days, outside of any religion, that ask us to go quiet and still as we give thanks for our lives. A beautiful time, filled with deep appreciation and joy.

I'll admit, it wasn't easy. It took a very active releasing of the cycle of overabundance in all its forms—food, gifts, socializing, family, tradition, and group thought—to allow this lovely clarity to shine forth.

In fact, stepping into this way of living authentically can be quite difficult at first—it may require letting go of tradition, from what the mainstream dictates. It might mean something as big as deciding not to visit home during the busy season. Or, it could be as simple as choosing to not indulge in holiday foods, so your body—and you—feel better. Or maybe giving only a few, inexpensive gifts.
These decisions are yours to make.

When you allow yourself the freedom to create your holiday your way—not the one dictated by mainstream society, or handed down from your ancestors, but yours alone—everything about the season shifts.

Gratitude, which might have seemed the furthest thing from your mind in that cycle of "must dos" and mainstream stress, becomes alive in you again.

Most importantly, you begin to understand that overabundance isn't actually what you need—after all, you don't really require a cup that's overflowing. You just need a cup that's full.

Ten Ways to Jump-Start a Holiday Filled with Gratitude

1. Travel outside of peak season, if you travel at all. Booking a flight Christmas Day instead of Christmas Eve is an entirely different experience.
2. Limit gifts to small, inexpensive tokens. Or gift "experiences" instead.
3. Make a bucket list of what you really love about the holidays: walking in the snow, sleeping in, watching Frosty the Snowman. Do these, and let the rest go.
4. Graciously decline invites that no longer fit. A simple, "I'm sorry, we can't make it" is all you need.
5. Sleep, rest, be still. It is winter, after all.
6. Play cards, catch, dolls…connect with younger ones and your younger self.
7. Sing.
8. Revisit the holidays as holy days. Go to church, if that feels right, or a spiritual service in your community. Celebrate the Winter Solstice as an end of darkness and arrival of light.
9. Give hugs, the best gift of all!
10. Get emotional, feel it all, and celebrate, in your heart. Life is a miracle.

Llewellyn's Winter 2014 Catalog Is Here!

Llewellyn's Winter 2014 Catalog

It’s here—Llewellyn’s Winter 2014 catalog featureing January through April 2014 new releases!
 Download the PDF here.

Headlining our Winter 2014 catalog is a wide array of books, including:

• Daily Enlightenments
• The Essential Lenormand
• Forgive and Be Free
• Haunted Rock & Roll
• The long-awaited Sealing Wax Refill Kits
• A Witch's World of Magic
• And many more fabulous, forthcoming titles!

Perfect for browsing, this full-color catalog features a complete listing of our new releases for January through April, 2014.

How Booksellers Might Be Able To Combat Showrooming

GalleyCat had a great article a few days ago discussing ways that booksellers can potentially combat "showrooming" (the practice by customers of viewing items in a store, then using a mobile device or computer to search for cheaper prices online and elsewhere). The article, titled "How Booksellers Might Be Able to Combat Showrooming," includes a great slideshow of ways that retailers can match online prices and persuade some "showroomers" to make their purchases in the store.

From GalleyCat

You can read the full article and view the slideshow here.

The August New Moon Is Out--Check Your Inbox!

For those of you who currently subscribe to our email newsletter for booksellers, The Moon, you may have noticed a few changes.

We've streamlined the look, included new features, and christened it with a new moniker: The New Moon. As with this blog, our goal is to really connect with you, our selling partners, each month and offer support, guidance, and resources with the aim of helping you grow and thrive in this ever-changing market.

Our August 2013 issue of the New Moon was mailed yesterday morning. This issue includes:
-Halloween Event Planning Made Easy
-Shelftalkers (Playing with the Devil; Tarot of the Hidden Realm; Living Earth Devotional; and Cats Inspirational Oracle Cards)
-September New Releases
-Llewellyn's 2013 Tarot Catalog
-Indie Stores' Top Five Picks
-And Much More!

If you did not receive a copy in your email inbox, you can also view it here: The New Moon, August 2013 Issue.

You can also visit our website to subscribe to The New Moon, ensuring that it reaches you each month (please note that you will need to log in/register to be able to join our mailing list).

Halloween Event Planning Made Easy

Though it is but the end of July, and the sweltering, dog days of summer are upon most of us, it's already time to begin planning for the holidays. (Where has half of the summer gone? It seems as though it was just Midsummer yesterday, and Memorial Day the week before that!) Though many of us will be loathe to see these long, sweltering days end, there is something magical about the palpable change in the air, the feeling of renewal that comes with that change, even if we are entering the dying portion of the seasonal cycle.

The crisp autumn air, the crunching of leaves underfoot, the smell of wood-burning fireplaces…to me, these things bring such happiness. And Samhain! That most magical of holidays, when the veil between the worlds is thinnest, when we celebrate the turning of a new year, when “kids” of all ages have reason to celebrate. And it's never too early to begin your Halloween holiday preparations!

As we near this magical time, it can be hard to reconcile plans (both personal and business) between the sacred and the secular, as well as between the spendy and the thrifty. That said, there are many ways to make Samhain more than just pointed hats and candy –without breaking the bank—at both your home and your store.

Spooky Stories
For many of us, Halloween is a time for fright—to spook and to be spooked. We have a great collection of ghastly titles coming out just in time to send tingles down your spine.

• Playing with the Devil, by Marcus Griffin. This haunting, thrill-ride of a true account is sure to please. Join paranormal investigator Marcus Griffin as he relates his true, first-hand account of his rock band Entropy and their encounters with the Gray Man, answering the question: Can you really sell your soul for rock 'n roll?


• Batting Demons of Darkness, by Brandon Boston. Now determined to embrace his destiny with the paranormal, Brandon Boston shares his true, first-hand stories of battling demons. Join him on a transformative journey from terrified boy to confident man whose purpose is to defeat dark spirits.


• Encounters with Flying Humanoids, by Ken Gerhard. Cryptozoologist Ken Gerhard has traveled the world collecting evidence on the Mothman, the Owlman, the Van Meter Creature, the Valkyrie of Voltana, the Houston Batman, and other strange "bird people" that have been sighted throughout history. Packed with famous historical cases and dozens of chilling first-person accounts, this is the first book to focus exclusively on flying humanoids—a wide array of airborne entities that seem to feed off our deepest fears.


• The Ghosts of Chicago, by Adam Selzer. This new book from the author of Your Neighborhood Gives Me the Creeps pieces together the truth behind Chicago's ghosts, and brings to light dozens of never-before-told firsthand accounts.


• Haunted Asylums, Prisons, and Sanatoriums
, by Jamie Davis with Samuel Queen. Explore frightening ghost stories and true paranormal encounters at ten well-known, haunted institutions across the United States. This unique collection of investigations is filled with terrifying photos, spooky highlights from on-site tours, and historical information about each location.



• Embracing the Spirits, by Barbara Parks. Traumatized by a poltergeist as a young adult, Barbara Parks never imagined she would overcome her fear of the spirit world. This collection of true ghost stories relates her dramatic, heartwarming journey toward embracing her gift for spirit communication.



• Surrounded by Ghosts, by Janet Larkin. Janet Larkin has, since birth, lived a life full of ghostly encounters. In her new book, Janet recalls her creepiest stories and grapples to make sense of a life overflowing with unexplained phenomena.


Décor
For me, decorations are always a great way to set the mood for any holiday season, Samhain included.

• Pumpkins. A great way to spend time with family, friends, and associates is always at the pumpkin patch, finding that perfect gourd to display, carve, or both. While pumpkins can be found in many places (grocery stores and supermarkets included), I always favor the pumpkin patch because it is generally cheaper, the selection is wider, and it makes for a great activity for everyone.
• Incense. Smell is one of the first things we notice when we enter a building or home; why not use some that celebrates the season? For a magical, uplifting, and thrifty option, try making your own incense or potpourri.
  • Crafting Incense at Home: http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/522
  • Granular Incense Making: Tips and Techniques: http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/1334
  • Magical Power Simmering Potpourri: http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/1452
• Colors. Colors are a huge part of décor, and I like to use those that are not only traditionally seasonal but also magically appropriate. Silver is great for making connections and bridging the gap (such as with Samhain spirit communications); yellow and gold symbolize the Sun and a fruitful harvest (whether literally or metaphorically).
• An Altar. Perfect for store or home, a Wheel of the Year altar can be suited to any Sabbat, including Samhain.
Rituals
Another strong way to connect to the season, to our friends and family, and to our ancestors is through rituals. These make great activities to do alone, to do with friends or family members, or to host as a store activity.

• Candle Rituals. To me, candles seem to be perfect to use any time there happens to be a chill in the air, but they also can be used for powerful candle magic.
  • Pick a special candle for Nights of Halloween Magic: http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/1625
  • Perform a Ritual for Candlelit Autumn Evenings: http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/1409
  • Invite prosperity with a Full Moon Candle Ritual: http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/1700
  • Worried about (or prevented from) using candles around children, pets, or particular building codes? Flameless candles can be just as magical as the regular ones. The Magic of Using Flameless Candles in Ritual: http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/2184
• Abundance Ritual. If you ask me, any time of year is the right time for abundance, but abundance has been traditionally associated with the Harvest Sabbats. Try a Halloween Cauldron of Abundance Ritual: http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/1773
• Spirit Communication Rituals. During this time when the veil is thinnest, it is easiest to connect with and communicate with our ancestors and other spirits. Why not host a group ritual to communicate with spirits?
  • Ancestor Circle for Samhain: http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/1771
  • A Samhain Visitation: Connecting with our Ancestors: http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/1730
  • Table Tilting is another form of spirit communication method great for a group: http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/2038
  • You may wish to use fragrance to heighten your intuition and spirit perception (Fragrances to Assist Spirit Perception: http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/1970) or do some energy work to aid in the process (Chakra-Cleansing Meditation to Prepare for Mediumship: http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/1595).
  • If using a Ouija Board, be sure that it is fully understood by all using it. Here are some Facts (and Fiction!) About the Ouija Board: http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/1729.
  • If you are not comfortable performing such rituals in the company of others, try doing your own spirit communication (Solitary Séance: On Your Own with the Spirits: http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/2187.
  • You may wish to ground and center or do a simple banishing prior to starting any ritual: Making Your Own Ritual (Some Fast Guidelines): http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/2063

Activities and Parties
There is something about Samhain that just seems to warrant having a party or other event. Looking for ideas? Look no further!

• Crafts. Crafts always make a great activity, as long as they are well-planned out (especially when large numbers of participants are concerned).
  • Try one of these two magical crafts from HedgeWitch Silver RavenWolf, a Harvest Wish Jar and Vintage Magic Blocks: http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/1734
  • Have knitters or crocheters in your audience? Try crocheted bookshelf organizers (http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/1194), a crocheted tarot box (http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/1328), or a Dream Pillow (http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/1342).
  • If you have access to a kitchen (or other large, open workspace), try having participants make their own Plant Spirit Essence (http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/1972) or other tinctures and infusions, such as a Magical Stress Eraser Mist (http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/2218.
• Divinations. Everyone loves having a peek into their lives and their future, whether by palm, tarot card, or pendulum.
  • Looking to do some divination yourself? Why not try tassomancy with your guests? Here are 10 Tips for Giving Dynamite Tea Leaf Readings: http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/2181
  • Having someone read the Tarot? Any gathering will likely have people of all ages, some you may know, and some you may not. Keep in mind 12 Tips for Reading Tarot for Children (http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/1927) and tips for reading Tarot for your friends (http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/1928)
  
  
  
Still looking for more ideas? Check out Samhain Party Hosting Made Easy (http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/1396).

The July New Moon Is Out--Check Your Inbox!

For those of you who currently subscribe to our email newsletter for booksellers, The Moon, you may have noticed a few changes.

We've streamlined the look, included new features, and christened it with a new moniker: The New Moon. As with this blog, our goal is to really connect with you, our selling partners, each month and offer support, guidance, and resources with the aim of helping you grow and thrive in this ever-changing market.

Our July 2013 issue of the New Moon was mailed yesterday morning. This issue includes:
-Llewellyn's 2014 Calendars, Almanacs, and Datebooks
-Shelftalkers (The Yoga Birth Method; Seasons of the Sacred Earth; Have You Been Hexed?; and Angelic Pathways)
-August New Releases
-Llewellyn's 2013 Tarot Catalog
-Indie Stores' Top Five Picks
-And Much More!

If you did not receive a copy in your email inbox, you can also view it here: The New Moon, July 2013 Issue.

You can also visit our website to subscribe to The New Moon, ensuring that it reaches you each month (please note that you will need to log in/register to be able to join our mailing list).

Small Business Owners: 6 Strategies to Optimize Your Social Media Marketing

I stumbled upon a great article this morning from eM+C (eMarketing and Commerce) discussing ways that small businesses can capitalize on the marketing they do through social media and online. The article, titled "6 Strategies to Optimize Social Media Marketing for Small Business Owners," presents 6 different ways that small business owners can beef up their online presence and increase their followers.

The article focuses on several aspects, including:

• Creating and sharing content
• Listening and engaging with your online followers (even when negative)
• Adding photos and videos to your feeds
• And more!

You can read the full article here.

Looking for some quick ideas for content to share with your store visitors and your online fans? Check out our full page of shelf talkers, stuffers, and other downloads, or sign up for our New Moon Newsletter (shelf talkers and stuffers are included in each issue).

Llewellyn's 2013 Tarot Catalog Is Here!

Tarot Catalog  —  2013 & Backlist

It’s here—Llewellyn’s new tarot catalog featuring 2013 products and backlist! Download the PDF here.

Headlining 2013 is a wide array of visually stunning decks and kits from Llewellyn and Italian publisher Lo Scarabeo, including:

 The Black Cats Tarot
 Cats Inspirational Oracle Cards
 The Fairy Lights Tarot
 Lenormand Oracle
 Tarot of the Hidden Realm
 The Victorian Fairy Tarot







Perfect for browsing, this annual, full-color catalog features a complete backlist of tarot and oracle decks, nicely organized alphabetically into three categories: decks, oracles, and books.

You’ll also find tarot books and a full selection of divination sidelines, such as tarot cloths, runes, pendulums, journals, and more.


A print version of Llewellyn's 2013 tarot catalog is available upon request (while supplies last). Please send your request to maryr@llewellyn.com.

The June New Moon Is Out--Check Your Inbox!

For those of you who currently subscribe to our email newsletter for booksellers, The Moon, you may have noticed a few changes.

We've streamlined the look, included new features, and christened it with a new moniker: The New Moon. As with this blog, our goal is to really connect with you, our selling partners, each month and offer support, guidance, and resources with the aim of helping you grow and thrive in this ever-changing market.

Our June 2013 issue of the New Moon was mailed yesterday morning. This issue includes:
-Craft: Celebrate the Summer Solstice by Creating a Solar Talisman
-Shelftalkers (Llewellyn's 2014 Witches' Calendar; Cartomancy with the Lenormand and the Tarot; Your Essential Self; and Rituals of Celebration)
-July New Releases
-Llewellyn's Fall 2013 Catalog
-Indie Stores' Top Five Picks
-And Much More!

If you did not receive a copy in your email inbox, you can also view it here: The New Moon, June 2013 Issue.

You can also visit our website to subscribe to The New Moon, ensuring that it reaches you each month (please note that you will need to log in/register to be able to join our mailing list).

Craft: Celebrate the Summer Solstice by Creating a Solar Talisman

The Summer Solstice is right around the corner, so now is the time to start planning store events, home altars, rituals, and get-togethers. Looking for inspirational recipes, crafts, or rituals to help you celebrate? Llewellyn's 2014 Sabbats Almanac has everything you need to celebrate the entire Wheel of the Year. We've included instructions for creating a solar talisman for the Summer Solstice, which appears in Llewellyn's 2014 Sabbats Almanac. This makes a great craft project, whether you plan to make just one for yourself, enjoy some Sabbat time as a family, or put together a store event.

---

Written by Black Octavian Blair, Excerpted from Llewellyn's 2014 Sabbats Almanac

The Sabbat of Litha, also called Midsummer, marks the Summer Solstice and the longest day of the year. This is a time to celebrate the Sun at the height of its power and the divine masculine whose energies are so closely tied to it. All of us, no matter what our gender, possess both the divine masculine and feminine within us. So when we celebrate the powers of the Sun, we celebrate as well as invoke and evoke that part of the divine within ourselves. In addition to masculinity there are many qualities associated with the planetary energies of the Sun, including creation, manifestation, health, protection, vitality, strength, and motivation, to name just a few.

This sabbat's craft will help you to honor and call upon these qualities through your own act of creation. It is no secret that Pagans love their jewelry, and when you complete this craft, you will have your own handcrafted solar talisman to wear during your Midsummer rites!  


Solar Talisman Necklace
Wearing a talisman is like keeping a battery charged with a specific magickal energy with you at all times and serves as a physical reminder of its corresponding goals and properties. This easy-to-make, oven-bake clay talisman features the inscription of a solar symbol and utilizes colors and herbal ingredients with solar correspondences to provide a sunny, energetic boost for the Litha season.

Supplies

• 1 (2 ounce) package oven bake-polymer clay
• Bamboo skewer or a nail
• Loose herbs of your choice
• Necklace cord (hemp, nylon, cotton, or other material of choice)
• Aluminum foil
• Clay tools (optional)
• Rolling pin (optional)

Instructions:
Before you begin your project, you will need to select a nonporous work surface such as a cookie sheet, a sheet of acrylic, or a glazed ceramic tile. An inexpensive option is to simply cover your work surface with aluminum foil. Polymer clays are nontoxic; however, if you choose to use any kitchen implements in the process such as a rolling pin or a cookie sheet, you still do not want to use it for food use after it has been used for clay work. I suggest obtaining them inexpensively from your local dollar store.

Choose a clay of a solar corresponding color. Shades of yellow and gold are excellent choices and are easy to find. Upon opening your package of clay, the first thing you will need to do is to condition the clay by kneading it. Clay straight from the package will be stiff and difficult to work with, and kneading the clay and working it in your hands will make it warmer and softer. Some people like to use a rolling pin for this. However, it can be just as effective to shape it into a ball, flatten it, and otherwise knead it like bread dough. At this time, you can also simply knead any herbs you wish to include into the clay. Focus on your magickal goals as you knead the clay to further imbue it with your intention. A thorough kneading will integrate the herbs and their properties into the clay as well as assure that all air pockets are removed. The following popular magickal herbs all have the Sun as their planetary ruler in addition to their other properties: chamomile, cedar, juniper, marigold, sunflower, copal, frankincense, and bay. Use a mortal and pestle or an electric spice or coffee grinder to reduce the herbs into very small pieces so that they integrate smoothly into the clay. Resins will need to be powdered. Once integrated, the clay should still be smooth to work with. Stop kneading when your clay becomes warm and is soft enough to work with.

When your clay becomes workable, you can begin shaping your talisman. One block of clay will be enough to make two or three talismans, so you can tear off a piece of clay the size you want to work with. I would start with a little less than half and adjust from there. Because it will ultimately take the form of a necklace pendant, I like to make a round, flat oval shape. To easily accomplish this, roll the clay into a ball, and press down on the center of the ball with your thumb. This will roughly smoosh the clay into the desired shape. A good thickness to aim for is approximately ⅜ of an inch. I find this to be a durable happy medium between too thin and frail and too thick and chunky. Continue to adjust the pendant by shaping it with your fingers until you reach the desired shape.

The next step is to inscribe the front of the talismanic pendant with the solar symbol of your choice. Research various sun symbols and choose one that resonates with you or create your own! A simple stylized sun works just fine. There are a few different ways to inscribe this into the clay. One is to use wooden clay tools (available at craft stores), many of which have a flat edge, to press and indent into the clay. However, an effective and inexpensive version of such a tool is a Popsicle stick. The other option is to scratch it into the soft clay with a bamboo skewer or a nail.

The final step before baking the talisman is to make a hole in which to string the cord through when it is finished. A bamboo skewer or nail works well for this task also. Be sure you choose a tool that will make a hole the proper size to accommodate the diameter of the cord you have chosen. Take the bamboo skewer or nail and carefully insert into the side of the pendant, about one-third of the way down from the top. Continue to push it through until it pokes out the other side. Stop and back the skewer out of the clay from where you initially pierced it. Do not try to push or pull the entire length of the skewer through the pendant as that much handling can distort the talisman's shape. Once this small tunnel is made for threading the cord, gently clean up any rough bits round the holes with your fingers.

At this point, your pendant is ready to bake! Cover your baking sheet with tinfoil and then place your talisman face up onto the sheet. Now simply follow the baking instructions on the clay package. Each brand can vary slightly. When it is finished baking, allow the pendant to cool completely. The pendant will have hardened during baking and will be fairly durable. The pendant is now ready to have the cord threaded through. Insert a long length of your cord and adjust to the desired length. Trim and knot the cord.

Congratulations! Your solar talisman necklace is complete! My favorite way to consecrate this pendant is to place it on my Litha altar after its creation to soak up the energy of the workings and blessings that take place there and then to wear the pendant during my sabbat ritual itself. Enjoy your handcrafted talisman, as it is of your own sacred creation. May you be blessed by the powers of the Sun this Litha and all year long!

Time to complete: About 75 minutes with baking and cooling time.
Cost: $10.00 to $20.00 (makes 3 or 4 talismans).

Llewellyn's 2014 Calendars, Almanacs, and Datebooks

It's almost that time again--time for Llewellyn's 2014 calendars and almanacs to appear in our warehouse! Each and every June, it is always so wonderful to see the product that results after another year of hard work on our calendars, datebooks, and almanacs.

A look at Llewellyn's 2014 calendars and almanacs:


Llewellyn's 2014 Astrological Calendar: Llewellyn's Astrological Calendar is the best-known, most trusted astrological calendar sold today. Everyone, even beginners, can use this beautiful and practical calendar to plan the year wisely. There are monthly horoscopes, best days for planting and fishing, rewarding and challenging days, travel forecasts, and an astrology primer. Advanced astrologers will find major daily aspects and a wealth of other essential astrological information. This edition features Julie Dillon's gorgeous and inspiring artwork.

—A guide to the planets, signs, houses, aspects, and transits
—Travel forecasts by Bruce Scofield
—Best days for planting and fishing
—The Moon's sign, phase, and void-of-course dates
—Graphic planetary retrograde table
—Major daily aspects, monthly ephemerides, and 2013 eclipses



Llewellyn's 2014 Astrological Pocket Planner:
Plan your future according to the stars. Essential astrological information is at your fingertips with Llewellyn’s Astrological Pocket Planner. Both beginners and advanced astrologers can use this award-winning datebook—the only one to offer three years of ephemeris and aspectarian data. Set the best dates for job interviews, weddings, business meetings, and other important occasions. Choose the ideal times to plant a garden, begin new projects, conduct self-reflection, go fishing, and more. Avoid planetary pitfalls by following the easy-to-read retrograde and Moon void-of-course tables. Comprehensive and compact, Llewellyn's 2013 Astrological Pocket Planner also contains a world map of time zones, a time zone conversion chart, and space to jot down your daily appointments.

—Daily signs, Moon phases, and aspects
—2014 week-at-a-glance
—Planetary stations chart
—Moon void-of-course table
—Word time-zone map and conversion table
—Best days for planting and fishing



Llewellyn's 2014 Daily Planetary Guide: Empower your life with the most trusted and detailed astrological guide available. Take advantage of cosmic forces on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis with Llewellyn’s Daily Planetary Guide. With exact times down to the minute, this astrological planner lists ideal times to do anything. Before setting up a job interview, signing a contract, or scheduling anything important, consult the weekly forecasts and Opportunity Periods—times when the positive flow of energy is at its peak. Plan your year wisely according to aspects, ephemeris, retrograde planets, eclipses for 2014, and more astrological information. Even beginners can use this powerful planner, which explains the planets, signs, houses, and how to use this guide.

—Planet and Moon aspects and ingress times
—Moon sign, phase, and void-of-course periods
—Planet retrograde and direct station times
—Ephemeris tables that include Chiron and four asteroids
—Sunrise and sunset timetables
—Planetary hours with complete instructions
—A stargazer's guide to planetary sightings and eclipses in 2014
—Weekly forecasts by Pam Ciampi
-Bonus: Find out the best times to undertake any activity with "Opportunity Periods"



Llewellyn's 2014 Herbal Almanac: Treat yourself to a rejuvenating spa night. Throw a nontraditional tea party with zesty flair. Add a spicy twist to your beer, wine, and liquor. There are hundreds of ways to benefit from nature's versatile plants inside Llewellyn’s Herbal Almanac. This treasury of innovative herbal ideas spans gardening, cooking, crafts, health, beauty, and myth/lore. Learn how to improve indoor air quality, create a "golden years" herb garden for seniors, keep invasive herbs in check, and soak up vibrational healing from roses, daisies, and other flowers. Discover how to use herbs as preservatives, and make your own homemade vinaigrettes and low-carb vegetarian dishes. Create herbal dyes and beautiful handcrafted paper speckled with seeds or flowers. From enchanting primroses to the many faces of avocado, this practical almanac is your gateway to the herbal kingdom.




Llewellyn's 2014 Magical Almanac: Llewellyn's Magical Almanac has been inspiring all levels of magical practitioners for over twenty years. Filled with practical spells, rituals, and fresh ideas, you’ll find new ways to deepen your craft and enhance everyday life.

This edition features compelling articles, grouped by element, on solar power and the home, carnival magic, recycling and refurbishing, enlightened eats, emergency healing, faery offerings and shrines, folk clothing, alcohol and the gods, soap magic, animism, transforming negativity, and other magical topics. Also included is a handy calendar section—shaded for easy "flip to" reference—featuring world festivals, holidays, and 2014 Sabbats. You'll also find astrological info, plus incense and color correspondences, to empower your magical work.

Published annually for over twenty years.



Llewellyn's 2014 Moon Sign Book: Since 1905, Llewellyn's Moon Sign Book has helped millions take advantage of the Moon's dynamic energies. This essential planning tool can help you choose the best time to do almost anything: buy stock, get married, buy or sell your home, start a new job, travel, have surgery, and much more. With lunar timing tips on planting and harvesting and a guide to companion plants, this book is a gardener's best friend. In addition to New and Full Moon forecasts for the year, you'll find insightful articles on growing a tea garden, cultivating roses, organic and natural food labeling, the Moon and earthquakes, outer planets in water signs, and Greek lunar folklore.

—A monthly lunar aspectarian with Moon tables
—Detailed weather predictions for each region by renowned astrometeorologist Kris Brandt Riske
—New and Full Moon forecasts for 2014 by Sally Cragin
—A companion planting guide that features over one hundred plants
—Electional rules and dates for ventures in love, relationships, business, finances, and other areas


The number one lunar guide to natural living since 1905.



Llewellyn's 2014 Sun Sign Book: Prepare for what's coming in the near future. Take advantage of huge opportunities and dodge potential pitfalls with Llewellyn's Sun Sign Book.

Filled with practical planetary wisdom, this easy-to-use guide will answer your questions about money, success,career, relationships, and more—for the whole year. In addition to horoscopes for every sign by popular astrologer Kim Rogers-Gallagher, you'll discover which areas in your life have potential for great success, and which require extra attention. Included are rewarding/challenging days for each month and a guide to the best dates to find a job, begin a romance, take a vacation, move, and plan other important endeavors.

Published annually since 1984.




Llewellyn's 2014 Witches' Calendar: Captivating, original artwork and a rich array of content have made Llewellyn's Witches' Calendar the top-selling calendar of its kind. New for this edition are enchanting scratchboard illustrations by award-winning artist Kathleen Edwards. Each month also offers an inspiring article, plus a spell or ritual. Connect with nature in May, work hummingbird magic in August, and treat yourself to healing balms in September. Astrological data and magical correspondences are also included.




Llewellyn's 2014 Witches' Companion: Live your craft every day with Llewellyn's Witches' Companion. This indispensable guide will keep you one step ahead of the latest Witchy trends, Craft practices, Pagan issues, and ideas in green living.

This year's edition is filled with wry and thought provoking essays—the madness of "Witch Wars," Gaia and the permaculture movement, magical de-stressing, finding community, magical vessels, essential stones for Witches, the art of dedication, bringing ancestors into magical practice, working with healing deities, and much more. Also featured is a sixteen-month calendar and lunar information to fuel your spellwork and rituals.



Llewellyn's 2014 Witches' Datebook: Today’s busy Witches can stay on top of it all—the magical and the mundane—with Llewellyn's Witches' Datebook, now featuring enchanting illustrations from award-winning artist Kathleen Edwards. Add a little magic to each day and keep pace with the ever-turning Wheel of the Year with this indispensable, on-the-go tool.

You'll find fun, fresh ways to celebrate the sacred seasons and enhance your practice—inspiring Sabbat musings (Elizabeth Barrette), tasty Sabbat recipes (Magenta Griffith), Moon rituals (James Kambos), and animal magic (Lupa). For spellwork, there's astrological information and daily colors. Also included are in-depth articles on charming jewelry (Ellen Dugan), a Witch's mini herb garden (Deborah Blake), spontaneous divining (Autumn Damiana), spellcraft on the fly (Marion Sipe), and more.




Llewellyn's 2014 Witches' Spell-A-Day Almanac: Make every day magical with a spell from Llewellyn's Witches' Spell-A-Day Almanac. Spellcasters of all levels can enhance their daily life with these easy bewitchments, recipes, rituals, and meditations.

Deborah Lipp, Elizabeth Barrette, Thuri Calafia, and other experienced magic practitioners offer simple spells for every occasion that require minimal supplies. For convenience, the 365 spells are cross-referenced by purpose, including love, health, money, protection, home and garden, travel, and communication. Beginners will find advice on the best time, place, and tools for performing each spell. With space to jot down notes, this unique spellbook can be used as a Book of Shadows. There are also daily color and incense recommendations and astrological data to enhance each day's magic.




Llewellyn's 2014 Woodland Faeries Calendar: A year of faerie magic and beauty awaits you. Vividly illustrated by renowned fantasy artist Linda Ravenscroft, this gorgeous faerie calendar captures the whimsy and grace of achingly beautiful nature spirits. Evocative portraits and scenes—alive in sensuous detail—bring us oh so close to alluring nymphs, charming pixies, rapturous sprites, and other secretive, ethereal beings. Llewellyn's 2014 Woodland Faeries Calendar also includes holidays and moon phase information.







Llewellyn's 2014 Sabbats Almanac: From Samhain 2013 - Mabon 2014: Make the most of each season of the Witches' year with Llewellyn's Sabbats Almanac. Packed with rituals, rites, recipes, and crafts, this essential guide offers fun and fresh ways to celebrate the eight sacred Wiccan holidays—and enrich your spiritual life throughout the year.

Get a unique perspective on honoring the Wheel of the Year from your favorite Wiccan and Pagan authors. Plan spiritually uplifting celebrations and family activities. Perform Sabbat-specific rituals and world folk rites. Whip up tasty treats and crafts as reminders of the season's gifts and lessons. Also featured are astrological influences to help you plan rituals according to cosmic energies.