Arcane Reading Nook
Trusted tomes & Occult Essentials.
Your Guide to Witchcraft, Wisdom, and Soulful Study
Welcome to the Arcane Reading Nook.
Where every book on these shelves has earned its place through candlelit nights, wild scribbles in the margins, and a fair amount of spilled coffee (or potion, depending on the day). This is our curated collection of trusted tomes and occult essentials, Books that have fed our spirit and sharpened our craft.
Here you’ll find honest recommendations, featured books, The kind of reviews you’d get from a witchy best friend: no gatekeeping, no fluff, and absolutely no time wasted on the bland.
Whether you’re looking to deepen your witchcraft, expand your wisdom, or just escape into something a little more magical, this is your invitation to pull up a chair, get comfy, and let your next favorite book find you.
February 2023 Homestead Update
Happy February and Blessed Imbolc! This time of year we prepare to welcome back the warmth and start our journey into growing season. January was a bit of a rough month on the homestead. My husband and I were recovering from oral surgery (he still has one more round to go later this month), and my MS was exceptionally rough. Though during my recovery, I had lots of time to dream those spring fever dreams of seedlings and garden plans. Happy February and Blessed Imbolc We have a lot going on in February. Winter is still trying to keep her firm grasp on everything. But we know it is the time of year when we plan for the world to wake up and grow again. A few of my plant babies have already been started, including my kale and the first round of leeks. This is my first-time growing leeks,
Mastering Magick | A Review
When it comes to magickal books, there are millions of them to choose from, and sometimes, knowing which one is best for you and your practice is challenging. I first read Mat Auryn’s book Psychic Witch back in 2021, and it is one of the best witchcraft books I have ever read to this day. So when I heard of his second book, Mastering Magick, I knew I was in for a magickal treat! Mastering Magick Mat has a beautiful way of writing that brings you into his world as if you were his personal student. Mastering Magick was the perfect follow-up to Psychic Witch. Each story and exercise was as close to an “advanced” magickal text as one could find. Mat, in his book, even talks about this very thing. Advanced magickal texts do not genuinely exist because the advanced part is the practice and journey of you, the practitioner. A
Ossman and Steel’s Appalachian Folk Healing | A Review
I remember the stories and old-school remedies from my grandmother and great-grandmother that they used to recommend, and I always wondered where some of those remedies emerged. I grew into a modern world that was shying away from herbal and home remedies. It is always fascinating to see the history of treatments and how modern medicine has changed with time. My grand and great-grandparents may have had Appalachian ancestors since they embodies aspects of that culture. The culture’s folklore has seeped its way through time and generations to my ears. So when I saw Jake Richard’s republication of Ossman and Steel’s Classic Household Guide to Appalachian Folk Healing with his introduction and commentary, I knew I wanted to dive into it. A Fascinating Historical Healing Book! While the book is not written as a book of practice, it is a book of historical significance. It is always amazing to see what the
Llewellyn’s Datebook and Almanacs for 2023 | A Review
It is the start of the new year, and one of my favorite parts is the new planners, calendars, and almanacs. Between my MS and my neurodivergent brain, I need to write everything down in multiple places to stay (somewhat) organized. This is why I love the combination of traditional planners, bullet journals, and almanacs to help keep me on track. I love that Llewellyn always has me covered for whatever I need regarding planning! This year I am so excited to dive into the planner, the spell-a-day almanac, and the herbal almanac! A Witchy Planner for Your Magical Year My favorite planner is Llewellyn’s Witch’s Datebook! I get a copy every year, which always brings me so much joy. The difference between a traditional datebook and Llewellyn’s is all of the spells, recipes, meditations, and information from the various voices in the witchcraft community. I often get busy with
Delicious Apple Galette | Featured Recipe
It is that time of year when we all are baking beautiful holiday pies and treats for our families. I had the great privilege of sitting down with my dear friend, Laurel Woodward, author of Backyard Garden Witchery and Kitchen Witchery to talk about Yule traditions and recipes. She was kind enough to share a few recipes with me to share with all of you! This featured recipe is one of those delicious recipes. So come bake an apple galette with us! Apple Galette Ingredients Dough for 1 Unbaked Pie Crust 1 Cup Apricot Preserves 2 Apples (cored and cut into thin slices) 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar 1/4 Cup Sugar 2 Teaspoons Cinnamon 2 Tablespoons Flour 2-3 Tablespoons Butter Directions: Pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees. While your oven is preheating, roll out pie crust dough into a circle and lay on a baking sheet. Spread preserves over the dough. Arrange apple slices in a
The Witch’s Guide to the Paranormal | A Review
Many could argue that I am a dark soul who has been drawn more to the spirit world than the world of the living. So it is not surprising to find that I love working with the paranormal. So when I saw J. Allen Cross’s book The Witch’s Guide to the Paranormal, I knew it had to have a home on my shelves. A Paranormal Guide I Couldn’t Put Down When I began to devour the pages of this book, I felt like sitting down with an old friend to learn and share coffee. J. has an incredibly comfortable writing voice and is often quite humorous. He also has a way of making the vast amounts of information easy to digest. J. brings many practical magical growth tips and exercises to witches who may be new to paranormal work. They are not complicated or too advanced for most witches. That