As one might expect, this book was one extended water metaphor.

Seven chakras, seven bodies of water, seven creature folk affiliated with the ebbs and flows of ones life. That I can get behind, but overall it felt a little too informal to me. It felt more like a diary of the author's journey of self-discovery rather than a tool that others could use to connect with the magic of water.

Especially jarring was the repeated use of the pronoun 'we'. 'We' as in 'the mermaids and I' have decided what should be written in this book, what order it should go in, and how it should be revealed to you. It read less inclusively and more like an us vs. them situation.

For anyone who feels spiritually compelled to the water and/or merfolk, this may be the perfect secular text for you. Unfortunately, this one fell a little short of the mark for me.

[Thank you to NetGalley and Llewellyn Publications for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.]

*Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, in exchange for an honest review*

I enjoyed the layout that the author used with making rituals and devotionals a daily and normal everyday practice. I also love the emphasis on "place" and connecting to nature. However, I didn't like the usage of the Chakras. It felt like an afterthought or an extra strengthening agent that wasn't needed. I really wanted to get more into water magic and utilize water in my spiritual journey; however, I didn't resonate with this personally. I would recommend it to others who may be exploring within their own journey.

Breath-Taking information

I have truly enjoyed reading this book. Leeza Robertson has done a fantastic job of identifying and discussing a Mermaid Pantheon, in which she includes, but did not limit to, the eight archetypes, which she writes about in this book. The hierarchy of archetypes she discusses are listed below, from top to bottom:
1. The Water Goddess
2. The Ocean Priestess
3. The Sea Witch
4. The Siren
5. The Common Mermaid
6. The Shapeshifter
7. The Nymph, and
8. The Sprite
The author, further, discusses each Mermaid Pantheon in detail, stating each member's own healing energy. In the chapter pertaining to each particular archetype, the author discusses the four exercises that we are to do in order to strengthen our connection with the deities, enhance our devotional practice, to aid in our mental, emotional, vibrational purposes, and to petition a deity to solve a problem or to manifest a thing in our lives.

This is a must read book for anyone desiring to learn about spellcrafting with the element of water. The author discusses and provides various exercises for each archetype listed above, from the chakras, moon phases, magical items used for each deity, to the auras, healing exercises, spellwork, and much more.

While this book may be one that is very comprehensive, a beginner can benefit from this information, as well as a more adept practitioner desiring to view things from another practitioner's view. Highly recommend.

I requested this book because I practice water magic. The author was very thorough and precise and it made for good and interesting reading. I was fascinated by this entire book. I read this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Grazie netgalley per avermi dato la possibilità di leggere questo libro.

Sfortunatamente non è il libro che fa per me.
Sono stata influenzata probabilmente dalla bellissima copertina e dal fatto di volerne sapere di più sulle sirene (che è una delle creature mitologiche che da sempre mi affascinano), ma purtroppo il libro non conteneva quello che desideravo.
E' strutturato sicuramente in maniera ottima e con molti esercizi di scoperta spirituale e di rilassamento, ma è anche molto legato all'esperienza dell'autrice, che purtroppo rende il libro quasi autobiografico, con tantissimi riferimenti alla sua vita, di cui non abbiamo nessun bisogno e sopratutto non sento questi riferimenti in alcun modo utili alla lettura del libro.
Sicuramente sarà una lettura utile per chi ha molta esperienza nel lavoro dei chakra e della spiritualità, ma purtroppo, personalmente, non mi è stato in alcun modo utile.

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Thank you netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Unfortunately this is not the book for me.
I was probably influenced by the beautiful cover and by wanting to know more about mermaids (which is one of the mythological creatures that have always fascinated me), but unfortunately the book didn't contain what I wanted.
It is certainly structured in an excellent way and with many exercises of spiritual discovery and relaxation, but it is also very linked to the author's experience, which unfortunately makes the book almost autobiographical, with many references to her life, of which we have no need and above all I do not feel these references in any way useful for reading the book.
It will certainly be useful reading for those with a lot of experience in chakra work and spirituality, but sadly, personally, it has not been helpful to me in any way.

Despite practing the craft, I´ve never fully indulged in water magic. In result of that, this book seemed like the perfect opportunity for me to get a grasp of what it is. I think the author explained her points well, giving many examples of rituals and such, very beginner friendly. I also liked the cartomancy segment of each chapter, it was something I´ve never seen before in these type of books. Overall a nice book to begin your journey with mermaid magic.

My mermaid calling was just not strong enough for me to read this. I didn’t like the way the author described things and nothing really called out to me. maybe I just didn’t get to the interesting parts, but I just couldn’t muster enough interest to read anymore.

This is a book about different water spirits/archetypes. I thought this was an overall interesting read but it wasn’t my style.

What I liked: The author makes a point to emphasize the mundane and seeing your every day life as a devotional act. She talks about our need as humans to sort of rekindle our relationship to “place” climate change and being custodians of the Earth. I also loved the journal prompts and affirmations and things that were included.

Although there were things that I did like about it, it was too New Age-y for my personal taste. By that I mean, the way it sort of exists as an island- un attached to any previously established practices or traditions, doesn’t have much reference to folklore and sort of vaguely mashes together spiritual concepts without acknowledging the original cultures from which they came and possibly doing so inaccurately.

For example:
1). the use of Chakras without any mention of hinduism or South Asian culture. I don’t personally practice hinduism so i could be wrong but I’m not sure it makes sense to promote associating the Chakras with nymphs and sea witches etc. Idk if those are archetypes that are even mentioned in that religion or culture.
2). grouping spirits like Oshun in with “Water Goddesses”…. Oshun is an Orisha, not a Goddess. Ifa (the west African religion she’s from), is a monotheistic religion. Orishas are not Gods.

I don’t think there’s inherently anything wrong with “New-Agey-ness” but I do think it can be a slippery slope into some cultural/folkloric confusion or misappropriation.

While this book is not one I will be using as a devotional, I greatly enjoyed reading it. Everyone has their own deities and others they call on in their practice, so it would make sense for water witches and those drawn to the sea to be drawn to the Mer world.

The book is well written and explains the concepts and provides ways to incorporate Mers into your own practices with devotionals and rituals. I found the book overall a very interesting read and learned quite a bit. The fact that I won't be using it in my own practice does not belittle it at all...we all are on our own path and I respect each and everyone's individual paths and I am glad I learned more about this area.

I loved the idea and concept of this book! I have already read the author's guidebook on the Mermaid Tarot of hers and I really resonated with her interpretations of mer life in that one and so I was sure that she will offer new perspective and information in this book as well. I enjoyed reading about the different mermaid archetypes and the inclusion of their relationship with the chakras and the moon. I am not particularly fan of the devotionals and rituals in here, but that was just me personally.

It was an interesting and informative read. I learned a lot of new information and feel like I understand much more on the subject of mermaids. Thank you for the chance to read this book

I honestly didn't know what I would be getting into with this book, but it was a surprise.

I have been lost looking for a path or even a little bit of a push down a road for my inner peace. The world the way it is of late, I am always at unrest with myself. I found myself drawn to this book right from the first chapter. I went into this reading blind, but go so much out of it. I highlighted so many passages for me to go back to read over and over again. The way the author explains the chakra's, types, devotions, and the instructions that aren't over your head hard. I read this book every night before bed for a week, and it was honestly the best week of sleep I have had for a while. The peace and calm that reading this book gave me was an outstanding surprise.

If you like mermaids, even just a little bit like me, and want to know more without being overwhelmed, this book is for you.

***Thank you NetGalley for providing me a free copy of the book in exchange for honest feedback.***

This book felt like a weird cult book where people are supposed to seek/worship mermaids -astaghfirullah, I didn't understand a word from it.
I assume astrology has some kind of connection with the book, and this type of stuff is haram in my religion so I felt extremely uncomfortable navigating it at the beginning.
When I requested it, I thought it was kind of an encyclopedia about the different types and species of fantastical mermaids/merfolks, but alas.
It's definitely not what I signed up for.
The only thing I thought was cool was the different art pictures in it.

This book takes you inside the mermaid pantheon to introduce to each of it's it's members and will show you how to work with the archetypes: the water goddess, the ocean priestess, the sea witch, the siren, the common mermaid, the shapeshifter, the nymph, the sprite. Each chapter concerns an archetype and instructions and magical item for devotions, rituals, chakra healing and spells. The author vividly describes each archetype and makes them come alive. Illustrations. Recommended reading