Witchcraft books are a popular genre in the literary world, and Barnes and Noble is a well-known bookstore that offers a wide range of options for those interested in this subject. With a rich history dating back centuries, witchcraft has intrigued and captivated readers from all walks of life. From instructional manuals to fictional tales, Barnes and Noble has a variety of books that cater to different interests and levels of understanding. For beginners, there are introductory books that provide an overview of the history and practices of witchcraft. These books often include information on spellcasting, divination, and the use of herbs and crystals. They serve as a starting point for those who wish to explore the world of witchcraft and its various traditions.
The first easy way to celebrate Samhain is to build a bonfire. This practice is one of the most honoured Samhain traditions, the fire symbolizes the welcoming of winter. You can begin your evening by communing with your departed loved ones through the fire. Invite friends and family to join you to create a welcoming space for the deceased, hold hands around the fire and embrace its warmth. You may also sing and dance, inviting the spirits to celebrate too. Telling stories around the fire is also common, either special memories you have of your loved ones or spooky stories of the dead or supernatural. If you’re not able to build a bonfire, use candlelight instead to welcome the new season.
An Altar is a sacred space that Witches use to carry out rituals and decorate for the Sabbats, for Samhain you may place photographs of your loved ones or personal items of the person you are honouring on your altar. Originally, Samhain known as the Feast of the Dead is a sabbat holiday celebrated in Celtic countries by leaving offerings on altars and doorsteps for the dead who have returned to their previous homes, and this practice is still carried out in certain places.
They serve as a starting point for those who wish to explore the world of witchcraft and its various traditions. For intermediate and advanced readers, Barnes and Noble offers books that delve deeper into the subject matter. These books may focus on specific aspects of witchcraft, such as Wicca, herbalism, or psychic abilities.
How the Modern Green Witch Celebrates Halloween
Each Halloween season, we are all accustomed to seeing images of pumpkin carvings, black cats, and cartoonized ghoulish creatures everywhere from the supermarket to our neighbor’s front yard. While this time of year is full of costumes and parties for some, it holds a deep spiritual meaning that is not forgotten among modern witches like ourselves.
This is the time of year where the veil between the spiritual and earthly worlds is said to be thinnest. The Celtics call it Samhain, in Mexico it’s Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), and for the Catholics it’s All Soul’s Day.
No matter what you celebrate, this is a time to pause and honor those who walked before us. We call in our guides and ancestors, express our gratitude for their gifts and wisdom, and in true Make & Mary fashion, let plant medicine and our intuition guide us along the way.
Here’s how the modern green witch is celebrating Halloween.
Set Your Space
As with any ceremony, set and setting are important. Set up an altar to honor your ancestors with photos, maps of where they come from, or items that remind you of them. Set out some water, and add offerings of plants or flowers if you have them, as a symbol of celebration. Read our blog on creating an altar as a ritual for inspiration.
Then pour your favorite tea, light some palo santo or some candles and welcome in your ancestors and guides. This Halloween is happening on a full Blue Moon, so consider a full moon tarot tarot spread to set the tone or better understand the messages they have for you. Of course, you’ll find us elevating the experience with the medicine of cannabis – we just added our favorite full-spectrum hemp vaporizer pen by Quill to the shop and online store. We love this pen because the hemp is sourced from the same family farm we work with. Also, it’s just pure hemp—no additives, diluents, fillers, or flavors.
Choose Your Plant Magic Ritual
There is an endless world of plant magic available to you beyond the tools we’ve just named. This ceremony is an opportunity to honor your ancestors as well as practice your own self care and nourishment. For example, you could create a herbal blend, tincture, or potion, prepare a sacred feast, or listen and commune with your plants in a brand new way.
We now carry several books to inspire and inform the modern witch on her journey. One of our favorites is The Green Witch: Your Complete Guide to the Natural Magic of Herbs, Flowers, Essential Oils, and More by Arin Hiscock-Murphy. We also sell Hiscock-Murphy’s The Witch’s Book of Self-Care: Magical Ways to Pamper, Soothe, and Care for Your Body and Spirit, among others.
Allow yourself to dive deep into the options, and listen when one calls to you. This is your ritual choosing you.
Purify and Awaken
Your ritual will be all the more powerful when you weave in an awakening element. We created our new CBD Hydrosol sprays for just this, and for day-to-day use too. Spray some in the air around you, and on your face for awakening and purifying. and in your mouth to comfort. You’ll experience the benefits of cellular plant water, created through a steam distillation process. If you come into our flagship store here in Portland, our house copper distill will greet you at the door.
Tulsi (Holy Basil) has been used in Ayurveda for thousands of years. Aside from purifying and awakening, other benefits include anti-inflammatory properties, calming of the stomach, balancing of the autonomic nervous system, and even strengthening of the kidney.
Anoint Your Skin With Oils
Next, choose some essential oils to apply on your wrists, neck, and third eye for anointing and protection. We love our calming Rosemary Lavender CBD Oil Roll-on for this – rosemary has been used to ward off evil spirits for centuries, and lavender supports you in opening and listening to the spiritual guidance that is available to you. Perhaps this is coming from your ancestors or guides, and perhaps this means better attuning to your own inner wisdom.
In the physical sense, CBD, rosemary and lavender oils are all known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The added benefit of 150 MG of Full Spectrum CBD extract aids in reducing inflammation, anxiety tension, headache and joint pains. The goal here is to find yourself open, relaxed, and free of distraction.
Perform Your Ritual
Finally, you have arrived at your ritual. You know what this is, and you’ve been carried here through a divinely supported process. Don’t second guess your intuition. Whether you’re creating with plants in the kitchen, blending herbs into a potion in your living room, or entering into a plant medicine meditation journey on your bed, this is your opportunity to connect and heal where it is needed most.
Herbalists were once called witches, and they were persecuted for it. We are grateful to those who have blazed the trails of plant medicine before us, as today we wear both titles with pride. We aim to carry out their missions to bring healing to our inner and outer worlds alike.
This Samhain, on All Hallow’s eve, remember: you are your own healer.
They may also explore the history of witchcraft in different cultures and provide in-depth analyses of rituals and traditions. In addition to educational books, Barnes and Noble also offers a wide selection of fictional works that feature witchcraft as a prominent theme. These books take readers on captivating journeys into magical worlds filled with spells, potions, and supernatural beings. From classic novels like "Harry Potter" to contemporary bestsellers like "The Witcher" series, there is no shortage of enchanting tales to choose from. Whether one is looking for educational resources or engaging stories, Barnes and Noble is a go-to destination for witchcraft books. The store's extensive collection ensures that there is something for everyone, regardless of their level of interest or knowledge in the subject. With its wide range of choices, Barnes and Noble continues to be a trusted source for all things witchcraft-related..
Reviews for "The Patron Saint of Barnes and Noble's Witchcraft Section: Silver RavenWolf"
- Jane Smith - 1 star
I was really disappointed by the selection of witchcraft books at Barnes and Noble. Most of the books they had seemed outdated and lacking in any real substance. I was expecting a wide range of books on different aspects of witchcraft, but instead, I found mostly beginner's guides and books that felt more like fiction than anything else. I think they could definitely improve their selection and provide more variety for those interested in witchcraft.
- Sarah Johnson - 2 stars
As someone who has been practicing witchcraft for many years, I found the witchcraft section at Barnes and Noble to be quite underwhelming. The books they had were either too basic and aimed at beginners or too fluffy and lacking in depth. I was hoping for more advanced books that could expand my knowledge and help me grow in my practice, but sadly I couldn't find much of that at their store. I think they could benefit from including more diverse and comprehensive books on different aspects of witchcraft.
- Robert Davis - 2 stars
I was looking for some serious and informative witchcraft books at Barnes and Noble, but I was disappointed to find that most of their selection was focused on Wicca and neopaganism. While these are valid paths, I was hoping to find books on different practices and traditions within witchcraft. The lack of diversity in their selection was quite disheartening. I hope they start catering to a wider range of witchcraft practitioners in the future.