BOOK REVIEW - Llewellyn's Witches' Calendar 2005

Llewellyn's Witches' Calendar 2005 © 2004 Llewellyn 36 pages
Paperback

ISBN 0-7387-0400-7 $12.95 (U.S.) $17.50 (Canada)



Once again the Witches' Calendar is a welcome addition to the household.
The old stand=bys are there - Moon phases, astronomical/astrological data
and colors for each day. Memorable birthdays (and death days) significant
firsts, and other memorable events in Pagan history (Z. Budapest's arrest
for fortunetelling on February 10, 1975 for example) also find a place on
the monthly pages.



The pages provide enough space to write those short, cryptic notes we need
to have somewhere visible. There is a quick reference on each month to the
significance of colors for those who want to try to remember any more
details than they absolutely must.



The major articles this year are wide-ranging as usual (Honoring Our
Ancestors, Elementals, the Witch's First-Aid Kit, Countering Curses,
Solitary or Group Practice?, Yemaya, Ocean Lady). Each article covers a
page, but for all their brevity they are good sources of information. The
authors display, at the very least, an adequate understanding of how to
convey their information without condescension or obscurity.



Although there are those who turn up their nose at anything from Llewellyn
(often with no explanation other than "It's from Llewellyn."), one thing
must be conceded by any reasonably fair-minded individual - Llewellyn is one
of the few sources for reasonably priced calendars, almanac, etc. on an
ongoing basis. They cover a wide scope in their articles and they
consistently keep their annual prices low enough that people don't have to
save up to buy them.



Calendars with nothing but pretty pictures cost the same, or more, than
Llewellyn's yearly offerings with lots of interesting ideas, history and
suggestions. This is one calendar I make sure to get every year. I am
always surprised by something on the monthly pages. And, I might suggest,
they make really nice Yule gifts.