TOOL SERIES - Reference

 Merry Meet, friends!

Aside from ourself, I think one of the best tools a witch can have in his/ her arsenal is a great reference library. Whether you build hard copies on your book shelf or internet sights you trust, Having a place to look something up that is unfamiliar to you is a must. 

Face it, my witchy friends... we don't know everything. I know, surprised, right? 

Image by Jarmoluk - Pixabay

I have a vast collection of books that I value. However, I do not count on just one to give me the information I'm searching for. I will go through several, searching for consistencies in what I want to know. If I come across a piece in one book that doesn't jive with at least two others, than I discount the information and move on. You will find inconsistencies. That's okay. Part of the information is gleaned from other sources to write one book, while others will impart their own 'wisdom' into the topic. 

I have sources I trust. Here is a short list (in no particular order) and Amazon links when I could find them:

Scott Cunningham

Silver RavenWolf 

Deborah Blake

Kate West

Silja

Dorothy Morrison

Please tell me in the comments below what your favorite reference books are. I'd love to add to my bulging book shelves!

Okay, books aside, there are also some great YouTube sights as well as websites. I've linked to many on previous blog posts. 

A couple of my favorite Youtubers are:

The Witches Cookery. She is so relaxing to watch and informative on basic things. I wish I had the ability to attend one of her annual gatherings. 

The Green Witch She also has a VIDEO sharing her favorite books.

The Witch of Wanderlust Olivia is very relaxed. I love her forest wanderings.

Forest + Fawn though she hasn't done any videos since having her baby a couple of years ago. The little tyke keeps her busy!

Please share any YouTubers you love in the comments below. I love meeting new people.

Blessed Be!

~ Rain

THE EVE OF A NEW YEAR - A Book

Merry Meet, everyone!
My year has just slipped away. I was getting back on track until my granddaughters visited for 8 weeks. I have to tell you, this grandma is out of practice chasing an 18 month old 24/7. LOL We had fun but I accomplished ZIP business-wise. After they'd gone, I just could not get back in flight pattern. I've only this past week begun blogging on all my blogs regularly. The only one I've kept up to date is my music blog. I've made some great connections in the music business and I could not afford to let them slide.

I also entered a writing competition in March with Boroughs Publishing Grp. Although I've not been looking at being strictly ePub, I have wanted to work with CEO Chris Keesler for over 15 years. So I dove in and entered. After several weeks of various rounds of judging, I made the finals. My novella, Somewhere Down the Line, is now under contract and the long process of making the story sparkle is under way.

I wrote the rough draft of Somewhere Down the Line in 18 days during NanoWriMo last year. So with a new Nano on the horizon, I've mapped out another story I'd like to submit to Boroughs and am hoping for great progress, though I'm not entertaining the idea of writing the rough as quick as last year's.

In the past I've talked about a book I want to write about being a more organized witch. I've purchased a copy of The Green Wiccan Year: Celebrations, Rituals, Herbal Magic and Kitchen Witchery by Silja. I ordered the book for two reasons. One, I want to see her perspective and hope her process helps get me back on track. Second, I want to make sure that what I have planned for my book does not duplicate what she has done. Really, who can duplicate what Silja does?

I'm hoping as I follow her master plan, I can blog about the process and find my way back on the path.

Blessings!
~ Rain