Book review: A Practical Guide to Pagan Priesthood

Hello, pornies! Long-time no see, but it is for good reasons, to be honest. In the mood for a book? I hope so!

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I just finished reading A Practical Guide to Pagan Priesthood: Community Leadership and Vocation, by Reverend Lora O'Brien, a book that I had in my sight for a long while. Although I thought it would take a long time to get done with it, I finished in a couple of days. That is already a good sign!

Reverend Lora O'Brien explains what Priesthood is about in every single detail, examining the many roles and responsibilities a priest could have, with a friendly tone to make an otherwise heavy subject more entertaining. She also includes several anecdotes to use as examples of what to do and what not to do.

Although it first disappointed me to see that this was more similar to a management book, more oriented to anyone interested in developing a company or a personal brand, because, let's be honest, that's what you will find, there are several tips and exercises you could only apply in a Pagan environment, such as how to successfully do a public ritual, what people will be expecting from you as a Pagan priest and what is in your hands to do as such.

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A Practical Guide to Pagan Priesthood helps you discover what you will be expected to do and asked if you assume the role of a priest, and how to get prepared to do it. You will also find writing prompts that will make you think about what you expect from this title, to make you realize if you're ready for it, if you can commit to it, if your expectations from it are realistic, or even if you should think about it in this very moment.

What I liked the most is that Reverend Lora O'Brien kept the book as general as possible, so non-Pagans would also know what Pagan priests do in real life, but I doubt it was a conscious decision. Anyway, I would still recommend A Practical Guide to Pagan Priesthood: Community Leadership and Vocation to any person wondering what this title implies, what is real about and, in case they are wondering about becoming a Pagan priest, how to do so in a good, successful way. It's simple, it's direct and it's magical. Give it a chance if you can! Thanks to the publisher for the copy!

Kinky regards, K!

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Book review: Morbid Magic

Hello pornies. These have been tough weeks, and I mean TOUGH, like in A LOT. Still unemployed and with no stable income, but managing to meet deadlines somehow (Hey, this guy’s witchcraft works after all, despite my self-doubts and self-sabotage).

It took me a bit to finish this book because of these difficult days, but I actually enjoyed Morbid Magic: Death Spirituality and Culture from Around the World, by Tomás Prower, a book I’m sure many of you will want to have as soon as possible. The reason? It is a wide, panoramic look at Death in several cultures. Doesn’t sound attractive yet? What about a death-related challenge for each culture? I think I got your attention already.

• Print Length: 360 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (September 8, 2019)
• Publishing Date: September 8, 2019
• ISBN-10: 0738760617
• ISBN-13: 978-0738760612

Morbid Magic takes us on a journey through the world’s biggest cultures and countries in order to know how they view, work and venerate death, mostly by examining their funeral rites and customs. Did you know, for example, that some people hire strippers for funerals? Or perhaps that there’s a tribe that eats their deceased so they remain within the tribe? I’m not saying any names, go grab a copy if you want to know!

This books called me because of the sole synopsis. The amount of research and work to bring this project to life in as diabolical as incredible, you can only imagine what it was to make this happen, but Tomás Prower managed to make it all work in the end. His informal style made such a morbid subject even funny to learn about, and don’t get me started at the anecdotes and experiences he shared.

As I said, Morbid Magic gives you one “takeaway challenge” for each culture and country you visit through reading, and I religiously took notes of them all (blame me, Rookie Necromancer here). It’s an idea I’ve never seen, so innovative and entertaining that I almost wanted to skip most of the book and get straight to them! Okay, not so literally, but I was eager to see what the author came out with.

This spiritual sequel to Tomás Prower’s first book, La Santa Muerte: Unearthing the Magic & Mysticism of Death, may serve pretty much as a prequel, to be honest. It offers enough guidance for witches, mediums, death walkers, or anyone interested in Death on a general context. I can see myself re reading this one over and over again, taking more notes, and I cannot think of a better way to spend the rest of October than reading about Death and the dead.

If you want to discover how funerals are held in other countries, how foreign cultures see the dead and honor them, incorporate their teachings into your own life, go grab a copy right freaking now. No matter if you’re a witch or not, you won’t look at Death the same way you did after reading Morbid Magic: Death Spirituality and Culture from Around the World. Thanks to the publisher for the copy!

About Tomás Prower:

Photo by Ray Garcia Photography

Tomás Prower (Los Angeles, CA) is the international author of multiple books, including Queer Magic. He has lived and worked in Buenos Aires, Santiago de Chile, Tijuana, Reno, and Long Beach. He is fluent in English, French, and several dialects of Spanish. Tomás is a Licensed Mortuary Professional and has previously served as the cultural liaison between France, the United States, and the South American member states of Mercosur.

Have you read this book? Would you recommend it or not? Let me know in the comments! Kinky regards, K!

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