The Wiccan Wheel of the Year is a religious and spiritual calendar that is followed by practitioners of Wicca. It is based on the changing seasons and the cycles of nature, and it is divided into eight Sabbats or festivals. The year begins with Samhain, which is celebrated on October 31st or November 1st. It is a time to honor and remember the dead, and to celebrate the thinning of the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds. Next is Yule, which occurs around December 21st. It is the celebration of the winter solstice, and it marks the longest night of the year.
"Sarah Hogle's Just Like Magic is a brilliant and totally bonkers romance told with hilarious, effervescent charm. Imagine spinning in blissful abandon amongst sparkling lights and rollicking music, then being caught by steady arms before you fall. That's what reading this book is like. It's sheer joy and true heart and utterly glorious pandemonium, and I adored it." --India Holton, author of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels
Just Like Magic gives us the most unlikeable heroine and the most unlikely hero, and by the end you want nothing more than for them to find happiness together. Hogle has the unique ability to take an absolutely bonkers premise and spin it into an instant classic--this will be a keeper on our holiday shelf for a long time.
It is the celebration of the winter solstice, and it marks the longest night of the year. Wiccans observe this festival by lighting candles and bonfires to symbolize the returning of light and warmth. Imbolc takes place on February 2nd and is a time to celebrate the first signs of spring.
Review: Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle
When I’d read Sarah Hogle’s debut novel You Deserve Each Other, I fell hard and fast for her work. Her writing managed to both tickle my funny bone and track a good bucket full of tears down my cheeks. After reading the synopsis for Just Like Magic, I was intrigued by the nature and premise of the story that the book promised.
When the book begins, you find your heart heavy and your emotions tangled, unsure how to feel for the protagonist and her situation. You feel sorry for her… but you don’t particularly like her. For a good thirty percent of the book, Hogle quietly sets a stage that we don’t see the beauty of until the very end.
My biggest advice for any reader who picks up Just Like Magic is: trust the author and stick to the book. The author’s writing is what makes this whole book work. The concept of the book is bizarre, but Hogle’s words make it wonderfully so. As the pages turn you start to see deeper meaning, painful wounds and a search for love and acceptance. And who can’t relate to that? Hogle’s writing is certainly what sets her apart and can elevate any normal story to something special.
The set-up and plot is all that the blurb promises it to be. It’s about an accidental conjuring of a holiday spirit and the comical and heart moving results of it at a family Christmas holiday. However, that’s not all the book is about. The book has layers of emotions, mystery, lots of characters that you somehow grow to love, a sunshine and grump trope between the protagonists, comical lies and their even more comical consequences and most importantly: humour and love. Also a dollop of emotion that will guarantee tears during the last twenty percent of the book.
The characters in the book are aplenty, to the point that sometimes some names blur. However, Hogle intends it that way, adding humour to it and making us laugh about the confusion. She has a certain trick that she uses in her books. She writes her characters initially by shining light on all their faults—be it the protagonists or the secondary characters. Then somehow (even the reader isn’t sure when) the characters showcase parts of themselves that endear us to them. Suddenly you know everyone’s name, their favourite colour, how they take their tea and you see their vulnerabilities and their kindness. She does this with the protagonist and she does this with every single person you may have had a problem connecting with in the story.
The book never particularly felt off in its pace but post 30% it certainly feels like more. More lovely, more warm, more funny, more endearing, just more. It’s a strange happening where the reader is caught up in the protagonist’s emotional mind space; so when she’s happy you’re happy when she’s sad, you’re crying, when the things around her are in a flurry you’re flustered and when she stops to look at the sky, you breathe the quiet air right with her. I stand by my statement: Hogle’s writing is her greatest most precious asset.
In fact Just Like Magic was so beautiful to me that for the first time in my life, I wasn’t even looking for a “perfect ending”. Wherever the heroine was at that very moment felt perfect to me. That’s a great feat to achieve for me as a reader who’s constantly looking to read a typical HEA.
Additionally it’s hard to write a book that’s a cross between contemporary and a somewhat fantasy trope without the latter overtaking the former. As readers we categorise books that have even a little bit of not-real elements in them, as a fantasy book in our minds. However, at some point while I was reading, I realised Just Like Magic didn’t feel like an impossible book… it felt real. Like it could happen to you. It was like a watching a Hallmark movie! A big ten on ten from me!
Just Like Magic is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
See alsoReview: Bring Me Their Hearts by Sara Wolf
Bettie Hughes once knew the comfort of luxury, flaunting a ridiculous collection of designer shoes and a stealthy addiction to CBD oils. That is, until her parents snipped her purse strings. Long obsessed with her public image, Bettie boasts an extravagant lifestyle on social media. But the reality is: Bettie is broke and squatting in Colorado, and her family has no idea.
Christmas, with its pressure to meet familial expectations, is looming when a drunk Bettie plays a vinyl record of “All I Want for Christmas Is You” backwards and accidentally conjures Hall, an unexpectedly charming Holiday Spirit in the form of a man. Once the shock wears off, Bettie knows she’s stumbled upon the greatest gift: a chance to make all her holiday wishes come true, plus a ready-made fiancé.
But as the wiles of magic lose their charm, Bettie finds herself set off-kilter by Hall’s sweet gestures. Suddenly, Bettie is finding her heart merry and light. But the happier she gets, the shorter Hall’s time on earth grows. Can Bettie channel the Christmas spirit and learn to live with goodwill toward all men? Or will her selfish ways come back as soon as the holidays are over?
From the author of Twice Shy comes a sprightly Christmas novel, a rollicking romp through the absurdity of family holidays and the hope of new love.
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Like Loading. Tags Share IndiaAhana started reading while she was in the womb. Or so she claims. Outside of talking about herself in third person, binge watching Asian Drama and plotting to get everyone she knows addicted to it, Ahana is an avid reader and a passionate blogger. She used to be quiet, but then she started talking about books and now she can’t stop. If you ever see someone animatedly waving their hands in the air and talking about dragons, fated-lovers and magic, that’s probably Ahana. You may not want to walk up to her, because she’ll talk your ear off about her favourite read. You can find Ahana on Goodreads.
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It is associated with new beginnings and the awakening of nature. Many Wiccans perform rituals to honor the goddess Brigid during this time. Ostara, occurring on the vernal equinox around March 20th, marks the arrival of spring. It is a time of balance between light and dark, and Wiccans celebrate by planting seeds, decorating eggs, and embracing the renewal of life. Beltane, celebrated on April 30th or May 1st, is a joyous festival that welcomes the arrival of summer. It is a time of fertility and abundance, and Wiccans often partake in rituals involving maypoles and bonfires. Litha, also known as Midsummer or the summer solstice, occurs around June 21st. It is the longest day of the year and a time to celebrate the power of the sun. Wiccans honor the sun god during this festival and often spend time outdoors to connect with nature. Lammas, observed on August 1st, is the first harvest festival. Wiccans give thanks for the abundance of the earth and celebrate the ripening of the crops. It is a time of gratitude and sharing. Finally, Mabon takes place on the autumnal equinox around September 21st. It is the second harvest festival and a time to celebrate the abundance of the earth before the arrival of winter. Wiccans often perform rituals to honor the goddess of the harvest during Mabon. Overall, the Wiccan Wheel of the Year is a sacred and meaningful calendar that allows Wiccans to connect with nature and celebrate the cycles of life and the changing seasons. It provides a framework for spiritual growth and reflection throughout the year..
Reviews for "Yule: Embracing the Winter Solstice in Wiccan Spirituality"
1. Jack - 2/5 rating - Wicca Wheel of Year was not what I expected. I found the writing style to be confusing and lacking clarity. The author jumped from one topic to another without proper transition, making it hard for me to follow along. Additionally, the information provided in the book was very basic and didn't offer anything new or insightful. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a comprehensive guide on Wicca.
2. Sarah - 2/5 rating - I was excited to delve into the world of Wicca with "Wicca Wheel of Year", but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The content seemed repetitive and lacked depth. I was looking for more detailed explanations and rituals, but instead, the book focused more on history and general information that I was already familiar with. Furthermore, the formatting and organization of the book were chaotic, making it difficult to navigate through the chapters. Overall, I feel that this book failed to provide the guidance and knowledge I was seeking as a beginner in Wicca.
3. Mike - 1/5 rating - I found "Wicca Wheel of Year" to be incredibly misleading. The title made it seem like it would cover the various aspects and rituals of each season, but instead, it was a mishmash of random information. The author didn't provide any practical tips or guidance on how to celebrate the Wheel of the Year, which was disappointing. Additionally, the book contained numerous grammatical errors and typos, which made it difficult to take it seriously as a credible source. I would not recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about Wicca or celebrating the Wheel of the Year properly.