A review of "Wheel of the Year: Living the Magical Life" by Pauline Campanelli.
This book was written by Pauline Campanelli and illustrated by her husband Dan Campanelli. Published by Llewellyn Publications in 1989. Pauline and Dan are both Wiccan and have been practising since 1968. Pauline has authored other books such as "Ancient Ways", "Circles, Groves, & Sanctuaries", and "Pagan Rites of Passage". She has also published articles for various occult magazines. Pauline and Dan are both professional fine artists and were even featured in a PBS special about their lifestyle and artwork. I had no luck in finding the PBS special, I hope it hasn't been lost in time.
This book takes you through the wheel of the year, month-by-month. It gives various information and ideas for rituals, magickal crafting, spellwork, and celebrating the Sabbats. The information in this book is very informative and the ideas are original. I find a lot of books on witchcraft tend to regurgitate a lot of the same information, but this book was refreshingly different. For example Pauline talks about how to bring magick to quilting and spinning yarn. She also discusses the wine harvest on her vineyard and why wine is sacred to the Gods.
You really get a feel for how the author lives and brings magick into their everyday life. She paints a lovely image of her magickal life on the "Flying Witch Farm". It encourages the reader to incorporate magick into their everyday lives in connection with the turning of the wheel of the year. And to really get in touch with nature, the seasons, and the Sabbats. Like collecting fallen wood in March to use in your Beltane fire or crafting magickal wands. Or collecting feathers in June to create a Witches' Ladder or make a magickal pen. Even crafting, anointing and dressing ritual candles in November in preparation for the dark half of the year.
This book is by far one of the best witchcraft books I have ever read. I would recommend it to witchcraft novices and veterans alike. I will certainly keep this book in my repertoire and will be coming back to this time and time again. Each new month I may just have to read the corresponding chapter to fill me with magickal inspiration. As soon as I finished this book I bought one of her other books, "Ancient Ways". I can't wait to read more from Pauline.