Mythology for a Magical Life is a well-written guide to all things magic. I found it easy to read and very informative. I love the authors writing style, they come across as knowledgeable and friendly. It had lots of great advice and would list several ways to approach things. It is the perfect book for people who like to learn about charms, spells, mythology, tarot, symbols, and many other things. It will make a great addition to your library.

I have gratitude and respect for this book. I think I’m one of the target audience readers for it -- someone who stepped away from magical practices, has been interested in getting back into it again, but needing something different than before. I don’t think that’s the only type of person who will benefit from reading it though. Those interested in myths, manifestation, practices of gratitude, etc. will benefit from this read.

I’m appreciative of “Mythology for a Magical Life” because it discusses myths that I haven’t heard of before. It’s interesting to read myths from different areas of the world and cultures. I’m also appreciative because the magical practices mentioned are eclectic and accessible.

The author notes that the book is geared toward experienced magical practitioners who are seeking to add new energy to their practice. It does help to have a basic knowledge, but I would not call myself “experienced” and I was able to understand all the content.

I also love that there is flexibility in the rituals. The author is quick to note that each person has an individual practice and it’s important to stay true to you. It’s nice to know that there isn’t just one way to practice gratitude, do a manifestation ritual, etc.

My favorite parts of the book were the chants the author created and the way the sections were organized. The end of each chapter contained the sources mentioned in the chapter, which I really love. Much better than having them all at the end of the book.

The only thing I didn’t love was the placement of the chapter on death. It made sense to place it where it was, organizationally speaking, but I would have preferred it closer to the middle of the book. This is solely a nitpicky personal preference though.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to read the ebook. This is a book I would purchase because it makes a great resource to refer back to, and I appreciate the examples of rituals and chants.

Book Review: Mythology for a Magical Life - Stories, Rituals and Reflections to Inspire Your Craft by Ember Grant.
Genre: Religion and Spirituality.
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
Release Date: 8th February, 2021

I REALLY enjoyed this book. It's been hard to get my reading motivation going this year and this book was perfect; a lovely blend of short stories (myths) and a ritual guide. I picked it up in the evenings and the myths were like bed-time stories. I found them comforting to read and loved how there was some familiarity in the stories, yet it told new tales I hadn't heard before.

Mythology for a Magical Life features twelve myths, from various traditions and cultures, along with spells, meditations, affirmations and activities to inspire your practice. Twelve myths makes it ideal to dip in and out of each month of the year.

I didn't realise just how easy mythology fit with the practice of Witchcraft. I frequently incorporate Goddess work (predominantly from Greek and Roman myths) into my Craft, but there can be so much more to it than working with the deities. There are many other things we can take away from these stories to develop our practice and improve ourselves. It has opened up a whole new world of possibilities for me.

I really want to mention my favourite chapter and myth that Grant covers. Chapter four explores, 'The Magic of Wildness' and looks at myths related to what she calls 'Skin Changers'. I have heard some of these stories before, or variations of them, and there was something about them that just stuck with me.

If you are not sure, the myths about 'skin changers' relate to a woman who can change from an animal (Grant looks at the myth of a mermaid and a swan) to human by shedding her animal 'skin' and they, 'typically centre on the female character being 'caught' while she is out of her animal form.' Grant explores various meanings and themes surrounding these myths, however the one that stood out to me was of the female losing her 'wildness' and becoming 'domesticated' - essentially losing her identity. The stories are somehow awful and beautiful at the same time.

As I loved what Grant said about these Myths in-particular, the activities alongside were the ones I was most eager to explore. Talking you through: identity affirmations, working with animal guides, animal encounters and some lovely journal prompts, Grant encourages us to explore our own wildness.

Just this chapter alone has got me wanting to delve deeper into this 'wild woman' archetype. I'm talking all the fiction and non-fiction I can get! I plan on starting with, 'Women Who Run With the Wolves' by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph.D. It's a book I've been wanting to read for a while and explores more myths and stories related to this archetype. If you have any other suggestions then please do let me know!

Obviously, this is just one chapter that really stood out to me, but there are so many more myths and rituals to 'inspire your Craft' that I'm sure there will be one that appeals to you!

I also briefly want to mention chapter ten, 'The Magic of the Shadow' which is about acknowledging our shadow self. This is an aspect of Witchcraft I am still exploring. Even though it can be difficult, the benefits of accepting our 'darker' side are great. If you are not familiar with shadow work then I definitely recommend looking in to it. This book is a good place to start, but like I said, just has this one chapter on the topic. Again the main reason this chapter stood out to me, as well as the shadow-work, was the feminist undertones. The myth that Grant looks at is from the Inuit people, however, there are so many myths out there that also look at the Underworld and themes of the shadow-self. For me, the Hades and Persephone story is one that I have always felt a connection to and love to work with.

This idea of using other myths; ones that Grant doesn't necessarily cover in her book, is definitely encouraged. For example in the following chapter Grant does cover the Hades myth when dealing with death and grief. She features a lovely poem in ode to Hades, yet encourages you to be creative by exploring other cultural myths in relation to the afterlife; focusing specifically on ones that you feel a personal connection with.

Grant says her book is good for those who feel like they are becoming distanced from their Craft and need a way back in. I agree it's a nice way to reconnect with the magic. However I consider myself to be, currently, right in the middle of my spiritual journey and this book has opened up a whole host of new possibilities for me to explore. For me, it's a must read. I expect to come back to the different myths throughout the year.

I really could talk about this book forever. It's such a unique and interesting way to develop and explore your Craft. I definitely want a physical copy for my witchy bookshelf!

This is perhaps one of the most practically written new age spirituality books that I have had the pleasure to read. The author, Ember Grant, provides thoughtful and straightforward introductions to perhaps complex or obscure concepts and themes for a novice connoisseur of nature worship/spirituality, folklore, and/or mythology. The writing is fluid, pleasant, easy to read, and the content is reflective and inspiring. I would highly recommend this for those that find healing in nature, inspiration in folklore, beginning magical practitioners, or those simply desiring to intentionally imbue their life with more wonder and appreciation for the magic of life.

This book has a specific audience: people who enjoy literature and witchcraft. I fill that niche and I enjoyed it very much. It's marketed for experienced witches wanting to revitalize their path, but I think it's a good resource for anyone anywhere in their journey. It has 12 chapters with various myths from around the world, their themes, and then spells, rituals, affirmations, and journal prompts that are related to the overall story. It's organized very well. You can read one chapter for each month of the year or just read it in one go. The myths are from many different cultures, which was refreshing since so many other books focus on western myths. It can read a bit textbook at times, but overall it flows well. My absolute favorite parts were the journal prompts and affirmations, Grant could make a killing selling a witch journal. I already recommended this to some people and I will continue to do so; if you're on the fence, just read it.

The main reason I picked up this book was because of the stunning cover and my love of mythology in general. I was surprised how comprehensive each chapter was. Grant suggests going through the book one chapter a month to take you through the year, and I can see how that would be beneficial as a practitioner. You would really sink your teeth into the lessons each myth can provide. Yet I read it cover to cover over a week, and it was just as enjoyable. I particularly liked the diversity within the myths; I was scared it would all be from the well known European texts, but Grant also cites South African, Inuit, Mayan, Aztec, Japanese, and Mesopotamian myths. She often also goes brings up other myths during the breakdown section of the chapter, exposing the reader to more variety. It felt a lot like Women Who Run With the Wolves, but where with that book I never really got on with because of the over explanations and an almost academic prose; Mythology for A Magical Life is more relaxed and feels more for the folk tradition practitioners. The author opens up throughout and feels like an honest guide in these lessons. The rituals she provides are doable at any level and often there is room for customization. All around this was a great read!

I loved this book. The way it is set up, with twelve sections, gives anyone looking to explore spirituality a full year of studies. In each section you get to read from original text translations, interpretations, and then you are presented with themes, as well ideas for spell and rituals. The spells and rituals are easy to follow and most will have no problems finding, or making what is needed.

Since I was enthralled by the myths, I read straight through, made notes of things I would need, and will be starting again at the first chapter and working more deliberately to study a chapter a month. Some of the myths were ones I was familiar with, and others were new to me, or explored in ways I hadn't considered. They are picked from a great diversity of cultures, making it a truly enriching experience.

“Mythology for a Magical Life” was an interesting reading experience that increased my knowledge of mythology and gave me fresh ideas about how to reinvigorate my spiritual practice.

The book presents a myth at the beginning of each chapter, which is then followed by corresponding rituals, spells, exercises, affirmations, journaling prompts, reflections, and meditations. There are twelve chapters in all, so that a reader could theoretically follow the book throughout an entire year and practice with one story per month. While I don’t see myself doing that, I definitely enjoyed reading such a wide variety of myths from around the world.

The most interesting parts of this book are the myths themselves. There are stories from North America, Mexico, Finland, Sweden, Australia, Japan, South Africa, and Scotland, among others. The author’s reflections on the archetypes and meanings of the myths are very interesting to read and I definitely felt like it increased by understanding and knowledge of certain mythologies.

As far as the exercises go, most of them aren’t groundbreaking, but there are some that are really interesting and definitely ones that I would try. The spells and rituals are simple, which would be great for beginners, and the journaling prompts, reflections, meditations, and affirmations would be very manageable add-ons to an existing practice.

I would say that while this isn’t quite a beginner’s book, it would definitely be appropriate for people who are new to the path and have the basics down already, or for more experienced practitioners who are looking for a way to reinvigorate their existing practice.

* I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to NetGalley and Llewellyn.

The description of this book says it is 12 myths and the spells that go with them. I love the format of this book. It is perfectly designed to rediscover your craft and magical life style. There are 12 stories and each one is connected to a month of the year. They come from all over, not just the cultures you normally see which I loved. I have read myths from all over the world and there were stories I wasn't familiar with.

The format is easy to follow. Each chapter has a story, then a discussion of themes, activities, and reflection exercises. Since I was reviewing this copy I did not complete the exercises. It would be well worth your time to buy the book and complete each chapter a month at a time. There is that much that you could use. Just reading it made me want to get back into rituals. I will definitely be getting my own copy.

This is a beautifully written book. The folklore is very insightful and very encouraging . Restore your energy and renew your passion for the craft with this charming guide.

4 stars

This book takes you through several myths designed to teach and inspire. The myths are lovely to read even if one does not implement the lessons into their practice or daily life. I would say that this may be best suited for beginners who are looking for where they may fit in or even for those who are more seasoned and a re looking for a fresh perspective.

The digital format didn't lend itself to completing the additional items, such as journal entries. I am hoping that the printed copy will be much more enjoyable.

Blending known and unknown myths with history, instruction, and guidance, Grant provides an intersection between old and new practicing magical folx. The structure of the book is laid out intuitively, introducing each concept and practice with wise but concise words.

Mmm… I gave this a go and it just wasn’t my cup of tea. Too textbook and wordy for my taste. I didn’t get much from this but that’s not to say others may not be able to benefit from it. Despite my inability to connect with the author’s writing—it’s a decent collection of myths combined with interpretations, spells, and activities for the modern day witch.

Mythology for a Magical Life is a collection of myths combined with interpretations, spells, and activities for the modern day witch. With an appreciation for both mythology and witchcraft, I was unable to resist requesting this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I love how this book draws from myths from all over the world and all over history. Placing emphasis on ritual, affirmations, and finding meaning, Mythology for a Magical Life seeks to enhance witchy folks' Craft. Touching on different topics like grief, feeling overwhelmed, or assertion, Mythology for a Magical life can be applicable for readers in many forms.

My one concern, however, that has lowered the rating of this book, is that the line between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation seems to be blurred. While finding and creating meaning in historical mythos is one thing, the indigenous tales and folklore that are included in this book have very real meaning today in those cultures. Finding connections and motifs around different cultures in an academic context is one thing, but completely ignoring the context of colonization and oppression in order to create a whole new personal meaning in a ritual or chant seems like it could easily disregard the people behind those cultures.

Feeling lost? Has your personal practice suffered from a loss of depth or inspiration? Do you wish to inject your craft with a touch of whimsy that you seem to lack?

Then look no further, you've found the book that'll help you do all this an more. Filled with stories that will tantalize and entice your imagination, exercises and meditations to help you connect with those inner stories that we all have within us that inform and shape who we are on a very deep level.

I would highly recommend if you are looking to spice up your personal practice, have an interest in stories or mythology. A wonderful addition to any library.

Loved this book. Since it was for a review I didn’t do the journals and the extra stuff that was presented at the end of each story, but I will definitely go back and do some of the ones I really liked at a later time. A great addition to any library, even those who aren’t religious but enjoy a good mythology compilation. I enjoyed the author’s writing, it felt very soothing and I felt like a was being guided without being overwhelmed.

Gotta say, if I saw this book at the book store I would be immediately drawn to pick it up. This is one of those books I could see myself having purely for display purposes. The cover is stunning, and I love the illustrations for the chapter headings as well.

I really like the idea and I am interested in the content of this book, I just struggle with the execution. Walls upon walls of text make absorbing this book extremely difficult for me. It's tedious and tiresome.

Also, I wasn't a fan of having a bibliography after each chapter, it sucked me right out of the book every time.

I absolutely adored this title by Ember Grant and will be returning to it for years to come (I will most definitely be purchasing a hard copy once released!). Myths surround us and we can apply their lessons to our contemporary lives. Although I was familiar with many of the myths, there were many that were new to me and that I will read over and over again. Thank you for writing such a gem of a book! I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It details how myth is relevant to our lives and how actually reading them ans studying them it can help us to make our lives more happy and fulfilling. The book is written in a conversational tone that made me want to read what I thought were boring old myths . I came to find out they held keys that our ancestors realized had profound meaning. This book is meant to be actually worked with. I have something fun to look forward to as my days progress and I see where I fit in. This book is excellent!!