Book Review: Venus and Aphrodite

Hello, pornies. ^^ How is it going over there? I recently told you about this book I was reading and how it explained that Venus and Aphrodite could also be Goddesses of War. Now that I finished it, I can tell you that you need to read it as well. It's Venus and Aphrodite: A Biography of Desire, by Bettany Hughes. Thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy!

• Print Length: 304 pages.
• Publisher: Basic Books (September 22, 2020).
• Publication Date: September 22, 2020.
• Genres: History, Folklore, Mythology.
• Rating: 4 / 5 stars.

A cultural history of the goddess of love, from a New York Times bestselling and award-winning historian.

Aphrodite was said to have been born from the sea, rising out of a froth of white foam. But long before the Ancient Greeks conceived of this voluptuous blonde, she existed as an early spirit of fertility on the shores of Cyprus -- and thousands of years before that, as a ferocious warrior-goddess in the Middle East. Proving that this fabled figure is so much more than an avatar of commercialized romance, historian Bettany Hughes reveals the remarkable lifestory of one of antiquity's most potent myths.

Venus and Aphrodite brings together ancient art, mythology, and archaeological revelations to tell the story of human desire. From Mesopotamia to modern-day London, from Botticelli to Beyoncé, Hughes explains why this immortal goddess continues to entrance us today -- and how we trivialize her power at our peril.

Let's start with the simple: the style. So clear, so detailed yet not overwhelming, so complete but not heavy. This is the kind of history books I'd love to read more often. Not to mention, it's pretty short. I'd rather it was a bit longer, but part of the charm is in its brevity. If there's something I don't like about academic books is that 90% of the time they use a complex language, just because, but this book was the exception.

Bettany Hughes takes a chronological structure to explore how Venus and Aphrodite, along with a few more beauty-sex-love-related deities, have evolved since the earliest recordings, leaving to stone unturned and no question with no answer (or at least a big part of them). I'd say my favorite aspect of the reading was how easy it turned out to be, how simple it is to follow.

I do think it could have been longer, however, since some chapters were too short compared to what I expected. The one explaining her warrior side, for example, could have dug some more to give more examples, or go into more details. I found this chapter so interesting I didn't want it to end, to be honest.

In general, I loved Venus and Aphrodite: A Biography of Desire and would recommend it to basically every single witch interested in beauty, love, sex, appeal, and the like. You won't get rituals, spells, or anything, but will help you get in touch with that part of you, not to mention you'll discover many faces of an often-overlooked Goddess.

About Bettany Hughes:

Bettany Hughes is an award-winning historian, author, and broadcaster. She is currently professor of history at the New College of the Humanities and a research fellow of King's College, London. She is the author of three popular books, Helen of Troy: The Story Behind the Most Beautiful Woman in the World, Istanbul: A Tale of Three Cities, and the New York Times-bestselling The Hemlock Cup. She lives in London. Website.

Kinky regards, K!

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Midnight Thoughts: Freezing Spells

Good morning, pornies. How's your week going? As I promised yesterday, I want to be more active here, and there's a topic I read about a long time ago that a friend mentioned recently: freezing spells. I admit I did one of those long, long ago, when I was getting started as a witch and didn't give much thought about doing different things. Today, however, it's a different story and I'm totally against them.

Source.

A little background on the topic. For those unfamiliar with them, freezing spells are supposed to actually freeze someone in order to stop them from doing whatever it is they're doing, usually gossiping about you, harming you in a way, and I guess there could be one to prevent them from hurting themselves, or someone can modify a basic structure to do it.

In my case, I did one during my high school years to stop one of my bullies. He was a selfish, pedant, irritating guy who as always looking for a new way to make fun of me. I just wanted him to stop once and for all, and casted a freezing spell I found on a magazine. I can't recall if it made any difference, but he sure got worse after a while.

My reasoning for this, and for me being against them, is that you actually freeze them and stop them for a while, but you're not fixing anything or helping anyone, not even yourself. What happens once the ice melts? Or maybe the fridge has a problem? That person will be just the way they were, you go back to the starting point, maybe after a good rest, but you didn't solve anything.

Maybe I'm biased because my witchcraft is based on healing and divination, maybe because I don't like the idea of harming someone, but I don't see a point in this type of spells. Maybe I'll change in the future, or maybe someone will make me change, but so far I'd rather either heal and strengthen myself, or simply push that person away. I've done both already, and I know they work, so I know they'll keep working.

Also, and this can be part of my early years as a well, when I was Wiccan, but I don't like to go against someone else's freewill, not even when I'm healing. I always ask for that person's permission, except when time is short and they need it as soon as possible. The same logic applies for my craft.

I'm okay helping someone, I want to, I love it, it's one of the reasons I became a witch in the first place, but I want that someone to want to be helped and to mean  it, to make a compromise with themselves to actually change. Otherwise I'll either do nothing or simply pray for them. If someone's messing with me or my people, I'll return the harm right away and heal those they hurt, not freeze them indefinitely in time and potentially prevent them from becoming better human beings.

Kinky regards, K!

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Where Have I Been?

Hi, pornies. I hope you are okay and have been as well.

I wanted to get back to you today because I've been really absent and I missed this place. I  missed this persona, I missed its home, its message, and (basically) everything related to it. I've been dealing with so many things that it's been impossible to stay alive as Kyler. I've been way too busy with real life problems, serious, draining ones.

Although I've always been very secretive regarding my real life, I feel comfortable enough to say that I was dealing with my health, both physical and mental. I still am, and taking care of my family because we're in a very delicate situation that could last for years. There is no immediate solution, but the good thing is that none of us is in imminent danger. We will if we don't take care, I'm already paying the consequences, and I'm doing my best to prevent this from happening to my family as well.

What does this have to do with KBW? Everything, every single bit of it.

I'm not alone in this, I'm not the only one doing the math and keeping both eyes on numbers, but I have a lot responsibility in my shoulders. Not all of it, but a big part. It has affected my physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health, affected my craft, sense of worth, self-esteem, and made me feel awful more than once because I can't stand the thought of someone else being needy and not doing nothing.

Thankfully, things are improving once again. It will take time, maybe a whole year, for everything to settle down, we don't know for sure, but I can finally breathe and think clearly in what to do. I've been reacting, rescheduling, replanning, in and out of clinics and hospitals (I was in one this Saturday), and I'm tired. Really. Tired. I couldn't even meditate at all for months, and just started doing it again this Sunday because I couldn't take it anymore.

I became a witch for a reason. I wanted to help people, and I see myself as a witch as a healer and diviner. However, there's only so much I can take, and I almost reached my limit. Lucky me, it was when I could take a break to plan and recover. The worst is far from over, but I feel better, more confident, hopeful, and know I have the tools to take care of it all.

Thank you for always being here, for all your support, and kind messages when I've needed them. I know this is not the entry you expected after a long time, but I felt I owed as much sincerity as I could share, so here it is. I may not post every single day as before, but you'll se me more often here than before. Being Kyler helps me, and I hope it helps someone else as well.

Kinky regards, K!

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Venus and Aphrodite as Goddesses of... War?

Hello, pornies! I've been sick af these days, one problem after the other, but am finally feeling better. It's been one hell of a nightmare and still need to take care of a few things regarding my health, but all good things take time. Hopefully, this one will not.

These days I've been reading Venus and Aphrodite: A Biography of Desire, by Bettany Hughes, and came to a curious association: that beauty and desire also have a dark side, even dangerous, making deities with these attributions could be warfare deities.

Photo by Ravi Kant from Pexels.

There's a certain passage that caught my attention:

Desire-for control, blood, fear, dominance, rapture, justice, adrenaline, ecstasy-can lead to both to making war and to making love, to churn and change of all kinds.

It makes a lot of sense, honestly.

A few months ago I came across the Wikipedia page for Aphrodite Areia. It was interesting, a curious aspect of a Goddess with a rather pacifist image, maybe even inoffensive (until you remember she took part in the legend of the Trojan War). I didn't give this aspect of beauty and desire much thought until recently.

It makes me think of all the times we do intrepid, fearless acts in the name of love, on how strong we can be when something or someone we hold dear is in danger, or when obsessive, unhealth love leads many to commit horrible acts, either for someone or for some cause.

It was my case in my most recent relationship, a toxic af one, mind you. I stood up for that relationship, for what I thought was the love of my life, I faced my family, many friends, and did all I could for it to survive, until I was dead inside. All in the name of love.

In a bigger scale, the love many had for Britney Spears finally set her free of an abusive conservatorship that has ruined her life and health for almost 14 years. So many have been screaming for her, shouting to the skies and demanding justice for an icon that has inspired a generation and part of the next one, a legend that has made a career being one of the most beautiful and fierce women in the world. That love sparked a war that finally came to an end.

For a long time I saw Aphrodite as a simple Goddess. I never dismissed the possibility of beauty being a powerful force in the world, much less love, but I happened to think about this Goddess as dangerous either. It's even ironic, considering I used to do something I called "Aphrodite's Bath" when I was at my lowest point, a simple ritual to reclaim my own beauty and accept again I could be desired.  Needless to say I would feel stronger after that, and the feeling would last longer every time I did it. With so much going on in my life these days, maybe I'll do it again.

From now on, I won't make that mistake again, and if I'm being honest, beauty has been one of my passive weapons and and important element in my craft. I always try for my altars to be beautiful, appealing, and I feel more confident and stronger when I dress my favorite clothes, when listening to my favorite music. I've even made some changes in my appearance a few of you know that have helped me feel more confident, but I wish I had used that power more consciously these years and not only ages, but it's never to late to change.

Kinky regards, K!

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Book Review: The Horned God of the Witches

Hello, pornies. I hope you've been well. This time has been a roller coaster for me for a long number of reasons. Between health, family, and several changes in short time, including the death of one of my masters, I've had my head all over the place except for this blog. However, I've been reading a book that helped me cope with it all and gave a lot of information. It's The Horned God of the Witches, by Jason Mankey. Thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy!

• Print Length: 304 pages.
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (June 8, 2021).
• Publication Date: June 8, 2021.
• Genres: History, Folklore, Mythology, Witchcraft.
• Rating: 5 / 5 stars.

Discover the History, Magick & Myths of the Horned One

Explore the deep spiritual roots of the Horned God and discover rituals and activities designed to help you get closer to him. Throughout history, horned deities have been honored as gods of nature, sex, fertility, passion, sacrifice, death, and rebirth. The Horned God of the Witches reveals the origins and features of their most common guises―Pan, Cernunnos, Herne, Elen of the Ways, the Green Man, and even the Devil.

Whether you are interested in the Wiccan Horned God―a more contemporary composite of several deities―or in one of his many other forms, these rituals for meeting the powerful deity will help you achieve your magical goals. With hands-on techniques for divination, creating an altar, working magick, spiritual lovemaking, and receiving the gifts of the Witchfather, this book supports a transformative deepening of your relationship to the divine.

Explaining what the Horned God is about and his origins, Jason Mankey takes us on a trip about the many Gods (and even Goddesses!) that have shaped the image of this modern deity. With a professional, friendly, detailed style that leaves no stone unturned, he guides the way as we discover the secrets and meaning behind each of the names we usually connect with the Horned God.

If you ask me, the best part was the inclusiveness and diversity you find in The Horned God of the Witches. Usually perceived as a heteronormative figure, we actually come to see him under a different light that includes more than what we see at first sight. He is not only the god of the forests, the soft rain, healing, life, and love, but also knowledge, rebellion, panic, ecstasy, pain, and death. He is not only a man, but also a woman, a genderless entity, straight, gay, lesbian, and so on. He's not only Cernunnos and Pan, but also Lucifer, ELen of the Ways, the Green Man, among others.

While the history is not easy, Jason Mankey did the best he could to present it in a comprehensive and simple manner. It may not be the easiest of topics, maybe a bit confusing for some, but it has been one of the best I've seen to date. He not only speaks about the parts of this god, but also about him as a whole, how he was shaped by time and culture, panic and arts.

I'd recommend The Horned God of the Witches to any witch who wants a more balanced approach in their practice, or a more experienced practitioner who wants more information about a god who's been getting a lot of attention, and deserves even more. We usually focus on the Goddess when we get started with Paganism and witchcraft, and it was confusing, even discouraging at times for me, not to have solid, intellectual information about the Horned God. Thank the Gods we don't have that problem anymore! 

About Jason Mankey:

Photo by Tymn Urban. Source.

Jason Mankey is a third-degree Gardnerian High Priest and helps run two Witchcraft covens in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Ari. Jason is a popular speaker at Pagan and Witchcraft events across North America and Great Britain. He was the channel manager at Patheos Pagan, the world's most read Pagan blogging site, and writes there at Raise the Horns. He also writes for the magazine Witches & Pagans. Jason is the author of Transformative Witchcraft, The Witch's Athame, and The Witch's Book of Shadows and the coauthor of The Witch's Altar.

Kinky regards, K!

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Mourndays: Queer Martyrs Directory

Hello pornies. I hope you are well. I've been sick AF these days, only a few of you know what happened to me, and I prefer to keep it like that, but I can tell you I'm feeling way much better now. And let's welcome spooky season! We all love Halloween, Samhain, horror movies, and a good scare (if you don't, um, whatever are you doing here? Nah, welcome, you basic). However, I want to share something different today, and it's the recent Queer Ancestors, and some not so recent ones.

Image by S. Hermann & F. Richter from Pixabay.

When I started this blog, I wanted to share what being a bisexual witch means for me, have a place to express myself, and the more I wrote and read I discovered I wasn't the only trying to make a change. Some people were doing the same, or did consciously. Being someone who cares about his Blood Ancestors because I come from them, my Queer Ancestors are also important because they represent who I am today.

I've written about a few of them already, I remember their stories, I know what they mean to me, but I want to honor them more directly and consciously this month instead of just thinking about them. If you want to do so, I'm leaving a list of those who I want to include in my practice, those I've written about, expect for the first one, by Storm Faerywolf, who inspired me to start writing about these people.

Looking at them all together now, I obviously notice they are all men expect for the Bisexual Mother of Pride, and I want to change that. I gravitate more towards queer men because I am one, mainly gay men because I thought I was one when I started exploring my own sexuality, but I've learned and read about some incredible women as well, and I'm sure there are some people out of the binary structure of genre who have also made a difference.

• The Spiritual Legacy of Matthew Shepard (by Storm Faerywolf): Inspiring change and recognition
• Robert Warren “Bobby” Griffith: Acceptance, mental health, freedom, religious trauma, writing, dreams.
• Alireza Fazeli Monfared: Cleansing, healing, happiness.
• Lindolfo Kosmaski: Earth, activism, education, tolerance, strength.
• Riley Hadley: Hope, innocence, childhood, future.
• Samuel Luiz: Migration, healing, happiness, friendship.
• Brenda Howard and Stephen Donaldson: (Brenda) Acceptance, activism, energy, leadership, pride, initiative, (Stephen) rape, students, music, activism, writing, politics, strategy, (both) bisexuality, healing, protection, defense, pride, acceptance.

Feel free to add or take out any name you want. Our connection is our own, our practice is our own, and we don't need to honor someone we don't want to remember or we don't feel connected to. I'm doing the exception with Matthew Shepard for personal reasons, but feel free to do as you please. We can watch horror movies and dwell in a horror book later, but let's first give our Ancestors the importance they deserve. Their fight is far from over. Our fight is far from over.

Kinky regards, K!

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Some things you may not know about me

Hi cuties, I hope you are okay, feeling good, and that this week is being nice with you. I was thinking yesterday that I always speak about other people, about my experiences, my readings, what I think, my practice, but rarely about me. You all know by now that I'm a very private person and love this incognito life, which will end at some point, but not for now. Hence my reluctance to let anyone know too much about me, so here are a few things you may not know about this guy.

1. English is my first language: I actually speak Spanish 99% of the time, even though Spanish is not my mother tongue either. I spoke that one for my first two or three years, then learned Spanish at School. Although I was one of the best students on English class, I feel self-conscious every time I read something I tried to write in English at that time. Now you know why I write a little weird now and then. 

2. People think I'm a Spanish teenager: Not a Spanish cell in my body, or European since we're at it. I've been told I look Argentinian, Portuguese, Greek, Italian, French, and I'm forgetting some, I'm sure. I've also been told, mostly when I shave, that I have a baby face. Some think that I'm 18-20 years old, when I'm actually 26. 26. It was a bit strange at first, but now I love to see their reactions so I hide my age for as long as I can.

3. My name comes from the gay porn industry: I actually wrote a full entry about my pen-name,  but in short it is inspired by six porn stars, one of them already retired, and stands for Integrity, Honesty, Passion, Direction, Beauty, and Bravery (the original entry said Bravity; you see what I meant by weird?). It all got started when I decided to be part of HORNS Magazine, and I'm so freaking glad I did!

4. I'm a writer and journalist: Under my real name, I write fantasy and paranormal romance, but I've also worked with several magazines and websites regarding social topics, entertainment, and culture. I want to write something as Kyler, but my English is not as good as I want it to be.

5. Not my only pen-name: He. Hehe. Yep. I have another profile which I won't detail, but I can tell you is the farthest thing you would imagine from "Kyler B. Warhol". It was a pain in the ass to define what I would cover under which name, and even now I get a hard time decided who will write about a certain topic, but it's part of the job.

6. My favorite things: Singer is Lady Gaga, color is black, tools are sigils and tarot card, accessory is necklaces, and despite I got a short experience, the season is Winter.

7. I'm a frustrated singer: When I was a teenager, I always signed up for the karaoke at anime conventions, and I always sing when I'm alone, there are fours recordings on me singing, but I get so nervous I fuck it up every time. I plan to get singing lessons at some point because I really want to learn how to do it, same goes to playing piano, and dancing. One day, I promise!

Did you know any of that stuff? Is there anything in particular you're curious about? ^^ Let me know and I'll see if I can share some bits and pieces about me again.

Kinky regards, K!

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Queer Heroes: The Bisexual Mother of Pride and the Bisexual Student Hero

Hello, pornies. I hope you're feeling nice and well after that weekend. I took the time to organize a few ideas and finally came up with the tools I needed to have a better structure and plan my weeks in a comfortable manner. However, I wanted to share with you a short video essay I found that speaks about Stephen Donaldson, a man I learned about when reading The Deviant's War, by Eric Cervini, and Brenda Howard, who I knew nothing about before.

Both are now part of my ancestors, both are people I want to know more about, and that inspire me to be someone in this life, to do my part to leave this world a little better. Yes, I just quoted Beyoncé. Anyway, here it is, and I strongly recommend you to take a look at the description in YouTube for sources and more information about these two people.

Did you know about them? What do you think about their work? Do you know about more bisexual activists or important figures? Let me know in the comments!

Kinky regards, K!

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Book Review: Love Spells for the Modern Witch

Rise and shine, pornies. How is it going over there? I hope you're in the mood for some sexy and hot magic, because I come with a book that I liked a lot and that will give you many tools to manifest as many hearts as you want in your life. I'm talking about Love Spells for the Modern Witch: A Spell Book for Matters of the Heart, by Michael Herkes. Thanks to the author for letting me know about the ARC and to the publisher for sending me a review copy!

• Print Length: 180 pages.
• Publisher: Rockridge Press (August 3, 2021)
• Publication Date: August 3, 2021.
• Genres: Love Magic, Sex Magic, Meditation, Witchcraft.
• Rating: 4 / 5 stars.

Invite and embrace the magic of love with this enchanting spell book.

We all have magic inside our hearts that can connect us with others and welcome new love into our lives. Manifest the magic of love with Love Spells for the Modern Witch. This spell book taps into the heart’s power with a variety of spells, potions, and rituals for every kind of love.

Go beyond other witchcraft spell books with:

• Modern love witchery―Understand the principal components of love and witchcraft, and find out how to ethically merge the two.
• Everyday practices―Learn how to use tools, carry out a ritual, and other methods and practices essential to witchcraft books.
• All kinds of love―Cast spells for modern life and love, from healing after heartbreak and building new relationships to growing in self-love.

Craft a love story with a little bit of magic thanks to this powerful spell book.

I have to admit I had my doubts about this book because of how many love spell books are already in the market. However, coming from Michael I knew it would be different and decided to give it a try. Needless to say that I'm happy I did so because it's not like the others for the most part.

Whereas common, massively produced spells books are only concerned about how many spells to get someone's heart they include, Love Spells for the Modern Witch includes a short introduction on magic, witchcraft, some basic concepts and ideas to keep in mind if you're not a well-versed witch or lacking formal training (ahem, like this guy here). You won't  be an expert, but you won't need to.

Also, I liked how diverse the book was, including spells for friendship, family, casual sex, threesomes (I'm not joking!), marriage, infidelities, and even a counter-spell for when you messed up with magic and need to cancel as soon as possible. You may need a few materials for some spells and rituals, but Michael gives a structure and style that are easy to follow, so you can be sure you will be fine.

If you want to give witchcraft a try and have a calling to work with love in an ethical manner, guided by a respectable author like Michael Herkes, then Love Spells for the Modern Witch is a good choice. Short, simple, and easy to follow, you will get the basics covered so you can get started on your journey.

About Michael Herkes:
Michael Herkes (Chicago), also known as “The Glam Witch”, has been practicing modern witchcraft since he was a preteen. He is a devotee to the goddess Lilith and focuses his practice on crystal, glamour, moon, and sex magic. He is also an experienced tarot reader, and has presented numerous workshops on witchcraft across the United States. Michael is the author of The GLAM Witch, The Complete Book of Moon Spells, and is a regular contributor to Witch Way Magazine. For more information visit www.theglamwitch.com.

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

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Faerydays: Why the Alder King?

Good morning, sweeties. I hope you are well and in the mood for some thinking. I was recently thinking that, although I always tell others to examine why they are called to work with a certain deity or spirit, I haven't done it with some, the Alder King being one of them.

Image by LUM3N from Pixabay.

For those who are not familiar with Him, or that need some recap because I know I haven't written about him in a long while, you can read the past entries right here:

• 1. Midnight Thoughts: A Queer Faery King?
• 2. Faeryday: Possible attributes of the Alder King?
• 3. Faerydays: An Esbat with the Alder King
• 4. Faeryday: Is the Alder King a child rapist/killer? + Bonus Videos

Now, why do I work with the Alder King? Why would anyone want to do it? Basically, he represents everything I am and aspire to be: queer, cunning, psychic, a healer, a guardian, connected to the other side, and often demonized or misinterpreted.

I define myself as a healing witch, maybe even this interest in necromancy is related to my work as a healer, and my divination sessions are often aimed at helping others with their questions and feel better, more confident about past, present, and/or future.

When I think about the Alder King, I think about a monarch who is often portrayed as the villain because he is different, because he thinks differently, and challenges the social norms of those around him. I see him as a powerful outcast who revels in uniqueness, differences, and individuality. He can be dangerous, that's for sure, but also a mighty ally if taken the care to get to know him.

However, I also see him as a confident, aggressive, masculine energy. He is a warrior and doesn't accept a no. I see this side of him as something I need to learn to apply, not as an abusive personality trait but as a way to put limits. I don't feel comfortable doing harmful magic, although I do it when I have to, and I'm the worst person you could bring into a fight because I don't even know how to punch someone. I struggled with bullying for 11 years in elementary and high school because I didn't know how to defend myself and felt insecure about being violent.

The Alder King clearly doesn't have this problem. He knows what he wants and stops at nothing to get it. I am as persistent and passionate about my projects, but I'm always doubting whether I can or not, if I'll be able to do it or not. There's that little doubt on the back of my mind that I need to heal still.

I know I can work with the Alder King regarding psychic development, queerness, otherness, protection, healing, and divination, but he can also teach me about aggressive magic, confidence, and self-defense. I'd be lying if I said I'm not scared about it, but who said the path to becoming your highest self would be easy and fun? And now that I think about it, all those things are connected to the four powers of bisexual witches; maybe that's a sign?

Kinky regards, K!

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Book Review: How Witchcraft Saved My Life

Hello, pornies. I hope you are well, healthy, and sexy. I recently finished reading a book I want to tell you about, and although it was an introductory book, which I'm not too fond on, made me think more than once about topics we often neglect when we've been witches for a while. It's How Witchcraft Saved My Life: Practical Advice for Transformative Magick, by Vincent Higginbotham. Thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy!

• Print Length: 272 pages.
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (June 8, 2021)
• Publication Date: June 8, 2021.
• Genres: Magic, Self-help, Witchcraft.
• Rating: 3 / 5 stars.

Take Control of Your Life with the Power of Witchcraft

Discover how magickal practices and principles can help lift you up from darkness and hardship. Author Vincent Higginbotham faced abuse, homelessness, and abandonment. But from the depths of these personal tragedies, a practice emerged, focusing on developing the psychic senses, reading tarot, understanding the elements, and drawing in magic for positive change. This guidebook is written for anyone coping with the legacy of abuse, neglect, poverty, loneliness, prejudice, or addiction.

How Witchcraft Saved My Life includes hands-on exercises and practices for spellwork, tarot, intuition, and the four pillars of Witchcraft―to Keep Silent, to Dare, to Will, and to Know. You can learn to use magick to cope with suffering and recover from trauma. The stories and lessons in this book teach you practical spiritual skills that will empower you to pull yourself out of the darkness of despair and into the light.

I was expecting this book to explain the practices Vincent Higginbotham developed while struggling, the ones that saved and helped him, but I got something totally different. Although he shares his experiences and events that marked him the most, there were no practices included because he didn't know about witchcraft or psychic senses.

What we actually get in How Witchcraft Saved My Life are teachings and ideas he now applies in his life after revisiting those dark places and overcoming hard times. Although there are spells and rituals that will help you when dealing with negative feelings, thoughts, lack of focus, and so on, those are modern except for the last one, which is so beautiful I plan to do it as soon as possible.

If you are new to witchcraft and are struggling to find your place in the world, dealing with a lot of stuff, doubting your future, then I'd recommend you to read it. It will give some tips, insight, and make you think about the basic concepts and practices. I found the chapter about the pillars a bit longer than necessary, but with lots of information to keep in mind and enrich your practice.

Although the title and synopsis could be misleading, How Witchcraft Saved My Life  is a good introduction for those having a hard time, offering hope when there is none. Far from presenting witchcraft as a fix-it-all as some readers say, Vincent Higginbotham keeps a realistic tone and reminds you that it will help you as long as you help yourself.

About Vincent Higginbotham:

After a decade living on the streets, Vincent Higginbotham (Southeastern US) went to college at the Art Institute of Philadelphia where he graduated with a degree in industrial design. He works with Hekate and Hermes in all things magick, and keeps a column in Patheos Pagan. How Witchcraft Saved My Life is his first book.

Kinky regards, K!

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Queer Martyrs: Samuel Luiz

Good morning, pornies. I hope you've been well. Today I wanted to share some sad news with you, although chances are you already know about this event and that it is not surprising for some, but I can't stop writing about it because it is another reason for which to keep working towards equality and educating non-queers. On July 3 of this year, Samuel Luiz was killed in what has been called a homophobic attack. Spanish police are still investigating.

On that night, he was with hanging out in A Coruña, Galicia, and had a videocall with a friend. While walking on the streets, a guy and a girl thought they were being filmed. When the guy shouted "you will either stop filming, or I'll kill you, faggot", Samuel said "why are you calling me a faggot?" Then he was beaten the first time.

A friend and a man managed to stop the fight and the couple left. Samuel asked his friend if she could get his phone back, but while she was away, the couple came back with more people, making a group of 12, and beat him to death. Samuel was only 24 years old and was working as a nursing assistant.

Samuel was a closeted gay guy to his family, and his father said in an interview that when he touched on the subject with his son, Samuel didn't want to continue the conversation. The police have said they don't rule out any possibility, but that so far they don't have any real reason to suspect this is a hate, homophobic attack. Let's point to the fact that Samuel was called "faggot," "subnormal," and "son of a bitch". That's all I'm gonna say.

This is even more surprising when we learn that Spain is one of the most gay-friendly countries in the world, the second, actually, according to Nomadic Boys, with Barcelona and Madrid being really popular as gay cities. It worries me a lot that there hasn't been any progress in the investigation, only pointing at some of the suspects, almost all of them with a violent history with the police, some even  being minors.

This reminds me a lot to the killing of Alireza Fazeli Monfared, the Iranian guy who was beheaded by his own family when he was outed as a gay by a military exemption card. In this case, there was no card and no family, but both men had plans to become someone important, they were young, and were working to make this world a better place.

Samuel was a healer, a kind soul, and I have read over and over again testimonies of his friends that describe him as compassionate and noble. I can only wonder what kind of man he would have become had he not been out that night. Maybe he would have been just another gay guy in Galicia, maybe he would have been an inspiration like he is now that his life was cut short, but with the possibility to do something bigger. We can only wonder.

Samuel's Healing Prayer

Words like knives were thrown around you,

Violence was your judge and tomb,

Yet you cared for old friends and new,

Yet they used their fists like stones.

Secrets you kept in fear and pain,

Secrets you swallowed and kept in the dark,

Secrets to stay away from disdain,

Secrets that now are out in the light.

Rise and shine and fly so high,

Your name we'll write in every star,

To heal the wounds of those in silence,

Stop the wounds before they happen.

With information from:

• Huffington Post España (#1 and #2).
• Telecinco.
• Pink News.
• El Español.

Kinky regards, K!

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Poem: To Die

Hello, pornies. I hope you've been okay. This have been though days again (yeah, again), but the good thing is that I've been writing once again, but also, after two years, I want to share something I just wrote.

Image by Daniel Langezaal from Pixabay.

I've been very, very vocal about my mental health issues, but I also think that something as awful can serve as an inspiration for something beautiful. I wanted to reflect what I am feeling now, and how different and similar it is from what I felt before. Both are forms of dying, but different on their own.

Feel free to interpret it as you prefer, but for me, it's better to always this open for debate instead of telling everyone what to think or get out of it. Let me know if you liked it or not, and if you'd like me to share more of my actual writing and not only devotional poetry and incantations.

Dying, dying, dying.

Always sinking in my garden.

Dying, dying, dying,

I keep ripping every fabric.

Dying, dying, dying,

During nights I just keep silent.

Dying, dying, dying,

Prayers heard by crystal angels.

KBW.

08/15/2021

11:15 PM.

Kinky regards, K!

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Book Review: Faerie Stones

Hello pornies! I hope you are good and ready for the weekend. I come with a book that left me with a bittersweet taste after readign it, which can be good for those interested in gemstone therapy with a few interesting ideas. It's Faerie Stones: An Exploration of the Folklore and Faeries Associated with Stones & Crystals, by Ceri Norman. Thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy!

• Print Length: 248 pages.
• Publisher: Moon Books (March 30, 2018)
• Publication Date: March 30, 2018.
• Genres: Celtic, Fae, Folklore, Gemstones, Healing, Mythology.
• Rating: 3 / 5 stars.

Faerie Stones explores the Faerielore and Folklore associated with different stones and various crystal formations, from the ancient Neolithic arrows known as Elfshot to magical Faerie dusted geodes known as Fairy Cavern Quartz. It deals with the metaphysical aspects of the stones, their traditional uses and healing qualities, and discusses which types of Faerie and which Deities/Faerie Monarchs are associated with each stone. It also offers practical tips and two meditations for working with Faeries and stones for spiritual development. Aimed at all those who love Faeries and Crystals, it is ideal for the beginner or the more experienced practitioner.

The whole idea of working with the Fae through stones is just too attractive and it has some base. Ceri Norman gives you a simple yet solid understanding of how to work with stones like Elf Shots, Seer Stones, and some more exotic ones, keeping traditional folklore in mind and the legends surrounding some of them. She also speaks about how crystal is a common, general element in some legends.

Faerie Stones takes a more liberal approach with other stones, linking them with concepts such as astrology, numerology, to offer a wider image of their uses, expanding the list of correspondences of each of them. You will find not only Celtic deities and figures, but also those from other pantheons like the Greek, Roman, Egyptian, some from South America, and more.

However, I found it difficult to keep reading because the author works with the idea of the Fae being benevolent, funny, healing spirits. Folklore tells us they could be in a way, but it's not part of who they are. I also have conflicts with the idea that there's one in every stone because, say, what happens when that stones breaks? Is the being divided in two, when talking about big rocks, or do they die? We don't get an answer. In addition to beings included in folklore Ceri Norman also included Shakespeare's Queen Mab and Queen Titania, the Slavic Sandman, mermaids, and a chakra meditation with Morgan le Fae. This last one was particularly unfitting for me, although it works as a format to work with the Irish Three Cauldrons of Poesy instead, which seems like a better option to me, culturally speaking.

I think Faerie Stones was okay, but took too many liberties and perpetuates the idea that the Fae are tiny, cute female beings that work with nature, along with cultural inconsistencies. It can be useful if you want to learn more about gemstone healing, how to incorporate them in your practice, and some of the stones folklore links to the Fae, but most of the time doesn't tell you why a particular stone is connected to the Fae (I was expecting the author to point out at specific legends and myths that include those stones) and mixes information from so many sources I feel Ceri Norman tries to convince the reader her practices are genuine.

About Ceri Norman:

Ceri Norman is a dedicated Faerie Priestess, folklorist, historian and an internationally known author. Her inspiration comes from ancient magic, mythology and monuments, as well as the inner realms of magic and mystery.

Have you read this book? Would you recommend it? Let me know in the comments! Kinky regards, K!

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