On the Witchy Side of the Read: Claire Goodchild's "The Book of Seances"

If you're a witch who has been practicing divination for some time, then you won't find many surprises in this book. You may find some delightful nuggets, though. Using myself as an example, when I read the tarot, I read for myself or for a friend. Asking a spirit to share information about itself via a tarot spread has never occurred to me. And who isn't up for an exercise designed to improve her clairsentience skills? In regards to performing a seance, however, the "How to Perform a Seance" chapter spans pages 65 to 82. The performing of a seance as described in "The Book of Seances," doesn't differ a great deal from the usual spellcasting ritual with candles, incense, moon phases, etc. The main difference is you are trying to communicate with a spirit rather than cast for a desired outcome such as a new gig which pays you enough to live comfortably.  Or a lover who isn't a crazier than Hell.

Conclusion: If you're starting out as a witch and haven't stumbled upon a divination technique that appeals to you, then this book gives you a general overview of various methods. And it can be fun to pair this book with an inexpensive item like gem jewelry that you have charmed during the gift giving season. In regards to communicating with spirits, I suspect that the dead with whom you have shared a loving relationship will not need any external devices such a tarot, sprit boards, or what have you to drop in for a pleasant hello.  

Current Read: Erik Larson's "In the Garden of Beasts"

 Perhaps hundreds of books have been written about the terror associated with the reign of the National Socialist German Workers' Party. Is it because we continue to be fascinated by proof that no matter how nightmarish the dream, the dream becomes reality if enough people willingly follow the tune? Given the United States' unwillingness to halt the genocide inflicted by the State called Israel on the Palestinian population, the book serves as an excellent reminder.

In Larson's tale, William Dodd was employed as the United States Ambassador to Germany when Hitler and company began to cast their magic on a receptive population. The US did not want Germany to default on money the European country owed to the States; it was easier not to make a fuss about what Germany did to its citizens. The followers did not limit their violence to Germans, though. Dodd learned Americans tasted Nazi fandom, and German officials did not seem overly interested in ending the violence. After all, that happened to those who did not want to conform to the cause. Eventually Dodd caught the attention of Party members and believed he and his family fell under the State's surveillance machinery. Acquaintances met a nasty end. Perhaps fortunately for Dodd, the governments of the United States and Germany thought it best if Dodd left Hitler Country.

In "In the Garden of Beast," Larson paints a tale worthy of the creepiest of horror movies. A land known for its musical and artistical talents morphs into realm where the wrong friendship might land a man or woman in prison known for its torture. The neighbor that you invited for the morning breakfast might be the neighbor that revealed your poor choice of conversation by evening to the State police. Colorful with the occasional  not-quite-polite humor, the book shows that infamous Party members have been painted larger than life by Hollywood movies, but the ring leaders were frightfully human.  

Samhain Season

 

While walking home today, I admired the gold and scarlets of autumn and thanked my ancestors for giving me the chance to have a human experience. Unbelievably positive experiences have electrified me. I've run into utterly repugnant spirits that made me think That's a helluva prison that person has built for himself.

                    

For some, this is the spooky season, but for me, this has been Book-tober.  I made it to an indie book shop during Banned Book Week (Oct 1 - Oct 7). I saw only one book that I wanted, though. Most books on the table were YA. Two used book sales hosted by the university and the downtown library respectively slipped past me. I volunteered at one of the downtown venues for the annual book festival which is pretty much a 4-day event created to get you to buy books from mostly local authors. Think of it as a book store that spans three to four venues minus the hard-to-resist merch like mugs, totes, or stickers. From what I saw there were no books on the harvest/cooking or witchcraft, nothing to tie-in with the season.  The single presentation I had considered attending was canceled, Phooey! When you're around book lovers, though, you're bound to have fun due to the positive energy. 

The downtown library has its own book kiosk, which I gave a quick look-over once my shift ended. Wanting a closer inspection, I returned two weeks later. Imagine my dismay when I found three hardcovers for which I paid full price -- roughly 28 bucks each -- were going for two bucks per book. These books showed little to no wear. The volunteer cashier grinned at me. "About an hour before you walked in, a woman came in and bought that book by Prince Harry for two bucks. That was a new book." "Goddamnit! That was one of the books I was going to get today!" I snapped my fingers. I was pretty happy with my choice of three hardcovers, however -- happy enough to consider an annual 5-dollar membership fee, which would give me first crack at the annual "preview" used book sale held at the library. 

Also, I attended my first book club meeting held at the workplace.  In Aries fashion, I put forth the idea that since there were four in our group, everyone should have a chance to choose a book. No one would hog up the book selection, and the host wouldn't be forced to come up with a book selection. From a second host, I learned that the club was created when covid hit, and people risked going stir-crazy while working at home.  Now that people were back at work, schedules would make a get-together difficult. More than 1 group composed the club, which increased the difficulty of getting everyone in one place at the same time. I understood but was not deterred. My end game is having a book swap in which everyone would bring a gently used book or two that he or she no longer wanted.  Imaging your enjoying a mug of coffee or hot chocolate while unloading your unwanted book on someone! 

After my dentist's appointment tomorrow, my Book-tober palooza will end with a trip to Barnes & Noble. In guilty pleasure, I plan to pick up a book within the "Of Course Your Ancestors Love You. You can't See Them, But I Can" category and a book on Israel-imposed apartheid. That will top off my TBR file which has grown into quite a hill! 

Current Read: The Assassination of Fred Hampton by Jeffrey Haas

 Even at my young age, I was aware of the community's indignation at the news that  Chicago's cops had murdered Fred Hampton. People weren't exactly shocked. Hadn't Martin Luther King Jr, been murdered a year earlier? Hadn't Malcolm X been murdered three years earlier? Anyone who openly championed self-empowerment of an oppressed population received a prison sentence or a bullet. Because Chicago Police Department had carried out the assassination, it was within the realm of possibility that the United States Government had a hand in the murder. At the same  time, the CPD went on a rampage, arresting those they believed associated with the Black Panther Party. I recall how a gnawing fear threaded its way through the community. If you openly supported the Black Panthers, then the cops painted a target on your back. 

Memories of that period convinced me to purchase a copy of Jeffrey Haas' "The Assassination of Fred Hampton." As a lawyer for the Hampton family, Haas challenged Ed Hanrahan (the State's Attorney who organized the murder), members of the CPD (who carried out the hit), and members of the FBI (who relayed the orders that the hit must take place). CPD had no intention of admitting they carried out an assassination. In his book, Haas relays his battle to win the case against homicidal law enforcement personnel supported by judges who seemed as hostile toward the lawyers who represented the BPP as they were hostile toward the BPP, and unethical lawyers who acted as though no behavior was too low in their defense of the cops.

Last Book Read: The Plot To Save South Africa by Justice Malala

Strip the United States to its rawest, most horrific form of  racism, and you'll have something that looks like apartheid-era South Africa. Spawns of the loathsome regime, two Afrikaners came up with the idea that if they killed the perceived leaders of the anti-apartheid movement, then South Africa would erupt in civil war. I'm baffled at how these descendants of  Dutch immigrants convinced themselves that the assassination of Chris Hani would work in their favor. It wouldn't be much of a spoiler if I revealed the murder of Chris Hani gained the two men nothing except prison time. And they were awarded prison time only because they lied during hearings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Perhaps had they told the truth, they would have slithered their way to freedom. Much to the Conservative Party's dismay, South Africa and her sons pounded the stakes into apartheid, a system created by a government that had counted  the US's president Ronald Reagan and Britain's Thatcher among its allies.

In The Plot To Save South Africa, journalist Justice Malala reports on the days in the wake of Hani's murder. Nelson Mandela, Cyril Ramaphosa, and other comrades of the ANC were not going to relinquish the goal of a fair election. Their steadiness survived the maneuvers of a organization and its blood-soaked, murderous secret police who were not going to give up grisly power readily. This book illustrates how the Afrikaners' "terrorists" liberated South Africa,