Flyers and Stuffers
Who doesn't love free stuff? Give your customers a little something extra. These one-page pdfs offer practical information: recipes, charms, spells, and more!
Holiday Recipe: Rumpleminze Pie
Samhain Recipe: Double Chocolate Caramel Apples
Easy Enchanted Punch for Halloween
Etiquette Tips for Talking with Spirits
Lucky Money Charm
Energy Clearing Spell
Áine Faery Round Spell
***
Shelf Talkers
Call attention to specific titles with shelf talkers. Each page features two books.
Fairy Note Box and Cat Note Box
Pagan Note Box and Easy Tarot Reading
Spirit & Dream Animals and The Awakened Aura
Never Letting Go and The Woman Magician
Egyptian Prosperity Magic and The Sacred Magic of Ancient Egypt
The Small-Town Pagan’s Survival Guide and Intuition in an Instant
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
Who’s Ready for Paperless Catalogs?
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How do you feel about using digital catalogs? |
The debate over catalogs flared up recently when Random House announced that two of its catalogs will become paperless.
In Karen Schechner’s article “Random House Catalogs to Go Paperless,” Ruth Liebmann, vice president, director, and account marketing at Random House, Inc., says that the digital catalog will be “more up-to-the-minute, and thus more viable, practical, and useful.”
She also emphasizes that booksellers will have the latest information on publicity plans, marketing promotion, cover art, and more.
HarperCollins made the leap to digital catalogs back in 2009. According to Publishers Weekly, Macmillan and Simon & Schuster will switch to digital catalogs in spring 2012.
Now there’s an online service that offers access to publishers’ electronic catalogs. Above the Treeline’s Edelweiss allows retailers, librarians, the media, and publishing professional to browse electronic catalogs for free.
There seems to be a lot of benefits to electronic catalogs. But are they truly easier for booksellers? Are there drawbacks to digital catalogs? Please let us know what you think!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Make Your Halloween Event a Howling Success: Tips from Annie Wilder
Halloween is a great time to host a store event. Whether you want to plan a spooky reading by a local author or coordinate a ghost hunting workshop, there’s a lot of fun ways to make the most of the season.
Author Annie Wilder has participated in scads of store events for her books House of Spirits and Whispers and Spirits Out of Time. Here, she talks about a few key ways to make events engaging and dynamic, so that customers will be encouraged to ask questions and interact with the author.
Three Simple Tips for a Hosting a Howlingly Successful Halloween Event at Your Store
By Annie Wilder
Having lived in a haunted house for seventeen years, I’ve encountered animated ghosts, furtive shadow beings, stationary images from the past, disembodied voices, seemingly sentient lights, a dark man and a woman made of light. Although most of the spirits I’ve met were nonthreatening or even companionable, I have had some very frightening experiences.
Other scary experiences that I’ve had: sitting at a table in a much loved local bookstore around Halloween, surrounded by copies of my two true ghost story books, waiting in vain for customers to stop by to chat. I understand now why ghosts bang on the walls for attention!
I think it’s pretty intimidating for most people to approach someone they don’t know and start a conversation. I’ve had the best success at bookstores when I offer a structured presentation of some sort. Here are some ideas based on my experiences.
1. Try a hands-on approach.
Ask the author to share their expertise in a simple and fun way. He or she could tell ghost stories, do a Q & A session, teach customers how to communicate with spirits, energetically clear a house, or perform seasonal magic. Authors of psychic development books can do readings for the audience. Astrologers and tarot readers can give free mini-readings to customers, ghost hunters can offer tips on conducting an investigation. Even a short presentation breaks the ice and gets people talking—and hopefully, buying.
2. Plan a “disembodied” author chat.
If an in-store appearance isn't an option, consider planning an author visit by Skype or speakerphone. Audience members can submit their questions in writing before the event, email their questions to the store or author ahead of time, and also ask questions or share their own experiences during the event. (A store employee or volunteer would need to act as host or coordinator.)
3. Workshops and contests
Offer a free in-store lesson in one of the skills or activities covered in ghostly or magical books. Llewellyn offers many books well suited to the task with their practical approach and step-by-step instructions. Stores could give customers a simple introductory lesson in anything from tea leaf reading to spirit communication to simple candle magic. Have a list of three to five possible topics and ask customers to vote for their favorite. Conversely, stores could hold a drawing or contest, offering a prize for the best true ghost story, vampire protection tip, seasonal craft, etc., that customers have found in a Halloween themed book they’ve purchased within the past month.
Recommended Scary Reads
Here are some of my favorite spooky Llewellyn books. Any of these titles and authors would be good candidates for the suggestions above.
Ghost Hunting for Beginners
This colorful and down-to-earth handbook from paranormal investigator Rich Newman offers an informative and entertaining mix of high tech and low or no tech investigative approaches, true ghost stories from the field, and seasoned advice.
The Ghost Hunter’s Survival Guide
Written by Michelle Belanger, frequent guest psychic on A & E’s hit show Paranormal State, this guide is packed with helpful tips, real-life stories, and step-by-step instructions for staying safe while conducting paranormal investigations.
True Ghosts 3
I’m partial to true ghost story collections and the True Ghosts series featuring stories from FATE Magazine is probably my favorite. I’ve read them all, and True Ghosts 3 is the best of the bunch. It features true first-hand accounts of encounters with the denizens of the spirit realm dating back to the early 1900s.
Monsters — 10th Anniversary Edition
Occult scholar John Michael Greer combines impeccable academic research with truly entertaining, lively writing. Even bigger and better than the original book, this edition covers everything: aliens, Mothman, old hags, zombies, and more.
True Police Stories of the Strange and Unexplained
Compiled by retired detective sergeant Ingrid P. Dean, these firsthand accounts from law enforcement officials tell of dramatic, chilling, and sometimes inspiring encounters with aliens, ghosts, angels, and strange forces during the course of duty.
Annie Wilder is the author of House of Spirits and Whispers and Spirits Out of Time.
Raised in a family with Irish-German roots and strong intuitive abilities, the unseen world of angels, spirits, and lost souls has always been a familiar part of Annie Wilder’s everyday life. A writer and mother of grown children, she regularly hosts haunted tea parties in her spirit-filled Victorian house nestled in a sleepy Mississippi River town in Minnesota.
Annie has been featured in several television programs, including the Biography Channel’s “My Ghost Story.” Her home has also been investigated by teams of ghost hunters and visited by a number of prominent psychics, including Linda Drake and Echo Bodine. Visit Annie’s website.
Annie's three favorite bookstores:
Best of Times, Red Wing, MN
Sunny store and friendly, knowledgeable staff, and a picturesque river town location.
Magus Books and Herbs, Minneapolis, MN
The real deal for magic books and supplies.
Black Cat Books, Manitou Springs, CO
Enjoy a glass a wine while browsing for books in a groovy historic building — genius!
Author Annie Wilder has participated in scads of store events for her books House of Spirits and Whispers and Spirits Out of Time. Here, she talks about a few key ways to make events engaging and dynamic, so that customers will be encouraged to ask questions and interact with the author.
![]() |
Annie Wilder |
By Annie Wilder
Having lived in a haunted house for seventeen years, I’ve encountered animated ghosts, furtive shadow beings, stationary images from the past, disembodied voices, seemingly sentient lights, a dark man and a woman made of light. Although most of the spirits I’ve met were nonthreatening or even companionable, I have had some very frightening experiences.
Other scary experiences that I’ve had: sitting at a table in a much loved local bookstore around Halloween, surrounded by copies of my two true ghost story books, waiting in vain for customers to stop by to chat. I understand now why ghosts bang on the walls for attention!
I think it’s pretty intimidating for most people to approach someone they don’t know and start a conversation. I’ve had the best success at bookstores when I offer a structured presentation of some sort. Here are some ideas based on my experiences.
1. Try a hands-on approach.
Ask the author to share their expertise in a simple and fun way. He or she could tell ghost stories, do a Q & A session, teach customers how to communicate with spirits, energetically clear a house, or perform seasonal magic. Authors of psychic development books can do readings for the audience. Astrologers and tarot readers can give free mini-readings to customers, ghost hunters can offer tips on conducting an investigation. Even a short presentation breaks the ice and gets people talking—and hopefully, buying.
2. Plan a “disembodied” author chat.
If an in-store appearance isn't an option, consider planning an author visit by Skype or speakerphone. Audience members can submit their questions in writing before the event, email their questions to the store or author ahead of time, and also ask questions or share their own experiences during the event. (A store employee or volunteer would need to act as host or coordinator.)
3. Workshops and contests
Offer a free in-store lesson in one of the skills or activities covered in ghostly or magical books. Llewellyn offers many books well suited to the task with their practical approach and step-by-step instructions. Stores could give customers a simple introductory lesson in anything from tea leaf reading to spirit communication to simple candle magic. Have a list of three to five possible topics and ask customers to vote for their favorite. Conversely, stores could hold a drawing or contest, offering a prize for the best true ghost story, vampire protection tip, seasonal craft, etc., that customers have found in a Halloween themed book they’ve purchased within the past month.
Recommended Scary Reads
Here are some of my favorite spooky Llewellyn books. Any of these titles and authors would be good candidates for the suggestions above.
![]() | |
Ghost Hunting for Beginners |
Ghost Hunting for Beginners
This colorful and down-to-earth handbook from paranormal investigator Rich Newman offers an informative and entertaining mix of high tech and low or no tech investigative approaches, true ghost stories from the field, and seasoned advice.
![]() |
The Ghost Hunter's Survival Guide |
The Ghost Hunter’s Survival Guide
Written by Michelle Belanger, frequent guest psychic on A & E’s hit show Paranormal State, this guide is packed with helpful tips, real-life stories, and step-by-step instructions for staying safe while conducting paranormal investigations.
![]() |
True Ghosts 3 |
I’m partial to true ghost story collections and the True Ghosts series featuring stories from FATE Magazine is probably my favorite. I’ve read them all, and True Ghosts 3 is the best of the bunch. It features true first-hand accounts of encounters with the denizens of the spirit realm dating back to the early 1900s.
![]() |
Monsters 10th Anniversary Edition |
Occult scholar John Michael Greer combines impeccable academic research with truly entertaining, lively writing. Even bigger and better than the original book, this edition covers everything: aliens, Mothman, old hags, zombies, and more.
![]() |
True Police Stories of the Strange and Unexplained |
Compiled by retired detective sergeant Ingrid P. Dean, these firsthand accounts from law enforcement officials tell of dramatic, chilling, and sometimes inspiring encounters with aliens, ghosts, angels, and strange forces during the course of duty.
***
![]() | |
House of Spirits and Whispers by Annie Wilder |
Annie Wilder is the author of House of Spirits and Whispers and Spirits Out of Time.
Raised in a family with Irish-German roots and strong intuitive abilities, the unseen world of angels, spirits, and lost souls has always been a familiar part of Annie Wilder’s everyday life. A writer and mother of grown children, she regularly hosts haunted tea parties in her spirit-filled Victorian house nestled in a sleepy Mississippi River town in Minnesota.
Annie has been featured in several television programs, including the Biography Channel’s “My Ghost Story.” Her home has also been investigated by teams of ghost hunters and visited by a number of prominent psychics, including Linda Drake and Echo Bodine. Visit Annie’s website.
Annie's three favorite bookstores:
Best of Times, Red Wing, MN
Sunny store and friendly, knowledgeable staff, and a picturesque river town location.
Magus Books and Herbs, Minneapolis, MN
The real deal for magic books and supplies.
Black Cat Books, Manitou Springs, CO
Enjoy a glass a wine while browsing for books in a groovy historic building — genius!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Deborah Blake on Celebrating Halloween at Your Store
Hi Booksellers,
Looking for ways to attract a crowd on Halloween? Here’s some fun, inexpensive ideas from author Deborah Blake on how to appropriately celebrate this sacred Pagan holiday at your store.
Celebrating Halloween and its Pagan Roots
By Deborah Blake
Halloween is a holiday that has an origin deep in Pagan roots. Its name comes from the Christian holiday of All Hallows Eve, or Hallow Evening (hence Hallow E’en), which in turn was taken from the Pagan holiday we now call Samhain—pronounced Sow-win. Samhain is one of the most important holidays of the year for Pagans and Witches; it is considered to be the day on which the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest, and it is possible to speak to those we have lost, whether the recent dead or our ancestors. You can see where the “spooky” reputation of this holiday came from!
It can be tricky to balance the sacred nature of the spiritual holiday with the more commercial aspects of the secular celebrations that most people are accustomed to—but here are some suggestions for Halloween events that won’t demean the holiday . . . or cost an arm and a leg to put on.
Treasure Hunts
One of the easiest and most fun Halloween events that I have hosted at various bookstores is the “treasure hunt.” Find all the books in the store that have spooky or magical themes; this can include children’s stories, real-life books on ghosts, anything Pagan or related to Witches (yes—Harry Potter counts!), etc. You can then either write up a list for people to use as they hunt for the books (in which case, they have the list later to possibly shop from), or place bookmarks or other “markers” in the books that count towards the treasure hunt. You could even put a bookmark that is a coupon for any book it is in, in the hopes of selling a few in the process.
If you have a metaphysical or New Age store, you could try a scavenger hunt with clues, like “I am a clear rock used for boosting psychic energy” for a quartz crystal.
You could give a special prize to the first few customers who find all the “treasures” or simply offer candy and Halloween goodies to all participants.
Storytelling
This can be aimed at kids or adults. You could invite a local author for a reading/signing event. Or arrange to have a staff member tell spooky or witchy stories.
Host a Costume Contest
Invite your staff to dress up, too.
Special Guests
Tarot readers and tealeaf readers are a popular attraction, and you can display books about psychic phenomenon near the reader’s table.
I suggest steering clear of insulting stereotypical witch make-up (long nose, green face and the like), but everyone loves a long black dress and a pointy hat. The trick is to celebrate this important Pagan holiday with respect, and treat all who come into your store as though they were V.I.W.’s—Very Important Witches.
***
Deborah Blake's most recent book is Witchcraft on a Shoestring. She is also the author of Circle, Coven and Grove, Everyday Witch A to Z, The Goddess is in the Details, and Everyday Witch A to Z Spellbook. She has published numerous articles in Pagan publications, including Llewellyn annuals and has an ongoing column in Witches & Pagans Magazine.
When not writing, Deborah runs The Artisans’ Guild, a cooperative shop she founded with a friend in 1999, and also works as a jewelry maker. She lives in a 100 year old farmhouse in rural upstate New York with five cats who supervise all her activities, both magickal and mundane.
Deborah can be found online at Facebook and Twitter. Or check out her website.
Deborah on her favorite metaphysical store:
“I get most of my supplies from AzureGreen and I have for many years. They have a wide range of stock, good quality and low prices, and the nicest folks working there. They’re a small company and I love them.”
Looking for ways to attract a crowd on Halloween? Here’s some fun, inexpensive ideas from author Deborah Blake on how to appropriately celebrate this sacred Pagan holiday at your store.
Celebrating Halloween and its Pagan Roots
By Deborah Blake
Halloween is a holiday that has an origin deep in Pagan roots. Its name comes from the Christian holiday of All Hallows Eve, or Hallow Evening (hence Hallow E’en), which in turn was taken from the Pagan holiday we now call Samhain—pronounced Sow-win. Samhain is one of the most important holidays of the year for Pagans and Witches; it is considered to be the day on which the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest, and it is possible to speak to those we have lost, whether the recent dead or our ancestors. You can see where the “spooky” reputation of this holiday came from!
It can be tricky to balance the sacred nature of the spiritual holiday with the more commercial aspects of the secular celebrations that most people are accustomed to—but here are some suggestions for Halloween events that won’t demean the holiday . . . or cost an arm and a leg to put on.
Treasure Hunts
One of the easiest and most fun Halloween events that I have hosted at various bookstores is the “treasure hunt.” Find all the books in the store that have spooky or magical themes; this can include children’s stories, real-life books on ghosts, anything Pagan or related to Witches (yes—Harry Potter counts!), etc. You can then either write up a list for people to use as they hunt for the books (in which case, they have the list later to possibly shop from), or place bookmarks or other “markers” in the books that count towards the treasure hunt. You could even put a bookmark that is a coupon for any book it is in, in the hopes of selling a few in the process.
If you have a metaphysical or New Age store, you could try a scavenger hunt with clues, like “I am a clear rock used for boosting psychic energy” for a quartz crystal.
You could give a special prize to the first few customers who find all the “treasures” or simply offer candy and Halloween goodies to all participants.
Storytelling
This can be aimed at kids or adults. You could invite a local author for a reading/signing event. Or arrange to have a staff member tell spooky or witchy stories.
Host a Costume Contest
Invite your staff to dress up, too.
Special Guests
Tarot readers and tealeaf readers are a popular attraction, and you can display books about psychic phenomenon near the reader’s table.
I suggest steering clear of insulting stereotypical witch make-up (long nose, green face and the like), but everyone loves a long black dress and a pointy hat. The trick is to celebrate this important Pagan holiday with respect, and treat all who come into your store as though they were V.I.W.’s—Very Important Witches.
***
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Photo by John Mazarak
|
When not writing, Deborah runs The Artisans’ Guild, a cooperative shop she founded with a friend in 1999, and also works as a jewelry maker. She lives in a 100 year old farmhouse in rural upstate New York with five cats who supervise all her activities, both magickal and mundane.
![]() | |
Witchcraft on a Shoestring by Deborah Blake |
Deborah on her favorite metaphysical store:
“I get most of my supplies from AzureGreen and I have for many years. They have a wide range of stock, good quality and low prices, and the nicest folks working there. They’re a small company and I love them.”
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
October New Moon Newsletter is Out--Check Your Mailbox!
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 issue of the New Moon was mailed this morning. If you did not receive a copy in your email inbox, you can also view it here: The New Moon, October 2011 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).

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 issue of the New Moon was mailed this morning. If you did not receive a copy in your email inbox, you can also view it here: The New Moon, October 2011 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).
Monday, September 19, 2011
Now Is the Time to Begin Your Halloween Planning
Sigh. It seems as though summer has flown by us for another year; wasn’t it 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.
Décor
For me, decorations are always a great way to set the mood for any holiday season, Samhain included.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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)
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Just in Time for Halloween: The Tenth Anniversary Edition of Monsters by John Michael Greer
Last Saturday, my six-year-old son watched a Scooby Doo movie, loosely based on the age-old werewolf legend. Later that evening, under a gorgeous almost-full moon, we were hanging out in a tent set up in our backyard. My son loves the idea of camping, but we weren’t planning to spend the night outside just yet. After a few stories, it was bedtime. As we left the tent, my son warned, “Run fast, Mommy, so the moon won’t turn you into a werewolf!”
He was a little spooked by the idea of werewolves. Right away, my mommy instincts kicked in. “Don’t worry, sweetie, werewolves aren’t real.” But is that really true?
I’m not sure of whom to thank for the incredible popularity of werewolves, vampires, and zombies right now. (I like to think that Joss Whedon, the genius creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, kicked off the craze.) In any case, the more these creepy creatures populate mass media, the more our curiosity intensifies. We want to know more: Are they real? Are they dangerous? Where can we find them?
Anyone hungry for more information on these legendary beasts will want to check out Monsters: An Investigator's Guide to Magical Beings. The newly expanded edition is available now, just in time for Halloween!
This best-selling guide by John Michael Greer is required reading for both active and armchair monster hunters. The tenth-anniversary edition features a new preface, new chapters on chimeras and zombies, and updates on werewolves, dragons, and faeries.
Are you ready for a harrowing journey into the reality of the impossible? Combining folklore, Western magical philosophy, and actual field experience, Monsters offers a chilling collection of fiendish facts and folklore, including:
Planning a special Halloween display devoted to monsters? Check out these favorites:
NEW! The Dragon Keeper's Handbook
by Shawn MacKenzie
Werewolves
by Konstantinos
Vampires in Their Own Words
Edited by Michelle Belanger
The Vengeful Djinn
by Rosemary Ellen Guiley, Philip J. Imbrogno
The Dictionary of Demons
by Michelle Belanger
Vampire Nation
by Arlene Russo
Ultraterrestrial Contact
by Philip J. Imbrogno
He was a little spooked by the idea of werewolves. Right away, my mommy instincts kicked in. “Don’t worry, sweetie, werewolves aren’t real.” But is that really true?
I’m not sure of whom to thank for the incredible popularity of werewolves, vampires, and zombies right now. (I like to think that Joss Whedon, the genius creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, kicked off the craze.) In any case, the more these creepy creatures populate mass media, the more our curiosity intensifies. We want to know more: Are they real? Are they dangerous? Where can we find them?

This best-selling guide by John Michael Greer is required reading for both active and armchair monster hunters. The tenth-anniversary edition features a new preface, new chapters on chimeras and zombies, and updates on werewolves, dragons, and faeries.
Are you ready for a harrowing journey into the reality of the impossible? Combining folklore, Western magical philosophy, and actual field experience, Monsters offers a chilling collection of fiendish facts and folklore, including:
- Why true vampires are the least attractive—and most destructive—of all monsters
- The five different kinds of ghosts
- Magical origins of the werewolf legends
- How to survive a chimera encounter (Jersey Devil, chupacabra, Mothman)
- The hidden connections between faery lore and UFOs
- Where dragons are found today
- How to investigate a monster sighting
- Natural and ritual magic techniques for dealing with hostile monsters
Planning a special Halloween display devoted to monsters? Check out these favorites:
by Shawn MacKenzie
Werewolves
by Konstantinos
Vampires in Their Own Words
Edited by Michelle Belanger
The Vengeful Djinn
by Rosemary Ellen Guiley, Philip J. Imbrogno

The Dictionary of Demons
by Michelle Belanger
Vampire Nation
by Arlene Russo
Ultraterrestrial Contact
by Philip J. Imbrogno
Labels:
books about monsters,
Halloween,
john michael greer,
Monsters,
vampires,
werewolves,
zombies
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