Wonderful book, it had a really mindful element to it as it works through the year. Even though there is lots of material in this book, it doesn't feel overly detailed or exhaustive. I love being outside and have a strong connection to the natural world. I appreciate that the book doesn't pressure you to identify with Wicca/Witchcraft.

I love that the book is sectioned out in the way it is, meaning you can come back to it throughout the year to re-read and practice the rituals.

I was slightly disappointed by this book. I have read a number of books on the wheel of the year and they all begin to merge after a while, there is little in this book to differentiate it from the others.

The book covers the symbolism of each festival and offers suggestions as to how you might incorporate it into your own marking of the passage of time. The one redeeming aspect it Rebecca's beautifully poetic prose when she writes about her reflections on the changes in nature. I could have read a whole book of just that.

I recievec an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Wheel of the Year by Rebecca Beattie

This is a book to be savored…not to be read in a day. I can see taking it out a few weeks before the next celebration to start thinking about and preparing to benefit the most from it. Trying to read it word for word from cover to cover in one go was overwhelming but I can see having this book in my library to refer to throughout the year.

The author speaks about her personal journey providing anecdotes and insights, provides rituals, activities, and ideas to personalize and make them special, gives history and insights to similar celebrations around the world, and provides a wealth of information that will help any interested in the Wheel of the Year and the eight times during the year that nature changes and can be celebrated while tapping into the earth energies of those seasonal times.

Thank you to NetGalley and Elliott & Thompson for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

I thought this was a wonderful, gentle, easy to understand way to connect with nature throughout the year. I found it to be informative, and well written.

This is a well written, comprehensive and detailed book describing each point on the wheel. There are rituals, spells and journal prompts as well as general thoughts and observations about the changing seasons.

It is probably the only book you need about the Wheel of the Year, and one that would be a great reference throughout the year as well as something to help build your practice.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy for review.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. As someone who is slowly exploring her own beliefs, this book was timely in coming into my hands. The history of each of the sabbats, as well as connections to other religions, was informative. The various exercises outlined, as well as ways to modify them if needed/desired, were easy to understand. I look forward to putting many of these into practice in the coming year.

Great book and very informative. Grateful to have in my collection.

Thanks to NG and the publisher for allowing me access to this book.

Even though there is a tonne of material in this book, it doesn't feel overly detailed or exhaustive. I don't practise Wicca, but I love being outside and have a strong connection to the natural world. I appreciate that the book doesn't pressure you to identify with Wicca/Witchcraft or act in a way you don't want to or feel comfortable doing.
Some of the exercises I did find a little bizarre though, so I will not be doing them, that's not to say they will not work for other people. I love that the book is sectioned out in the way it is, meaning you can come back to it throughout the year to re-read and practice the rituals.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to social media and different software app's, it is easy to get overwhelmed when you are searching for a specific topic. Unless the author lists their sources, it is hard to know if the information you are reading is factual or their opinion. That is not the case with The Wheel of the Year by Rebecca Beattie and the last thing you feel as you read her book is anything but overwhelmed.

Starting with the introduction of The Wheel of The Year, Rebecca shares who she is, what she follows and believes in and why she wanted to share this information. The Wheel of the Year is just that - a wheel of the seasons, eight festivals - known as sabbats. Each chapter goes into detail of the history behind that wheel, the festival being celebrated, ways to celebrate it along with a ritual, the supplies you need for it and sometimes a recipe to make.

I loved reading this and will definitely be using all of this information for each celebration. Although not quite a newbie, I don't know all the in's and out's of what to do and still learning it all. Each time one of the festivals come up, I research what I should possibly do to celebrate it, what foods to make, what rituals to possibly do and so much more which ends up me doing a very small portion of it because of being overwhelmed. Thanks to Rebecca, I don't have to do all that because The Wheel of The Year has everything for me that I can use. I'm looking forward to using this book for many years to come.

Thank you to NetGalley and Elliott & Thompson for the ARC. Thank you so much again Rebecca Beattie for sharing your knowledge and history of The Wheel of The Year with us.

What a lovely book! “The Wheel of the Year: Your Rejuvenating Guide to Connecting with Nature's Seasons and Cycles" encourages us to live in harmony with the seasons and the natural world. The author uses stories, poems, activities, and journal prompts to help readers connect with the seasons and to really explore them — most of us focus on our indoor lives and miss so much. The author weaves ancient practices with more modern sensibilities and includes practices from many traditions while focusing on her Wiccan roots — this is a useful addition to my library, regardless of faith.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

The Wheel of the Year by Rebecca Beattie is organized by the eight Pagan Sabbats starting with Yule. I enjoyed the “Try this” sections in each Sabbat. As a beginner struggling with how to begin honoring the changing of the seasons or celebrating, this could be really helpful. The “Themes” listed for each Sabbat are also a helpful addition to someone looking to create their own celebration or ritual.

There were many personal stories interspersed with lore, deities, ritual, and nature. There was an environmentally conscious theme throughout, for example, in the Yule section, the reader was given permission to buy pre-loved things rather than buying new ones.

I appreciated the way the book was arranged and feel that it would be best read by corresponding Sabbat throughout the year as written.

In the beginning, I was really enjoying this book. As it went on, I found issues with a few things. First of all, the author suggests leaving nuts and berries as an offering to the forest. While the sentiment is nice, this suggestion could be detrimental to those who live in bear country. Another suggestion for a ritual is to write all over an apple with a sort of permanent pen—and then eat it. Eating ink?

I wish the author had kept more of the tone of their journal entries throughout the whole book. It became dry at points. I found the writing to be a bit repetitive, and occasionally pretentious with constant references to the author’s PhD. It is also worth noting the author is a follower of Gardnerian Wicca…

I did enjoy some of the seasonal activities provided, and found a few tidbits of new (to me) information. I especially enjoyed the journal prompts. Overall, I think I would have appreciated it more if it was one of my first books on the topic.

Thank you netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Wheel of the Year : Your Rejuvenating Guide to Connecting with Nature's Seasons and Cycle is a guidebook for getting back to nature throughout the year. It is written by a wiccan priestess who takes the eight key stages in the yearly cycle and fills them with stories, history, rituals, recipes and a selection of ways to reconnect to nature. It is a feelgood book that will have you yearning to get out in the natural world around us.

I really enjoyed The Wheel of the Year by Rebecca Beattie. I think it would be a great introduction for beginners or anyone interested in learning about how others celebrate holidays.

The addition of poetry was something I loved. I think we should use more poetry in our practices! You can really get a feel for how someone views and practices the wheel of the year that you might not otherwise get.

I also enjoyed how the author tied the sabbats to holidays in other religions. It's nice to see that as opposed to an us vs. them mentality. Connection is at the core of witchcraft, in my opinion. Whether that be connection with each other, nature, ancestors, or deities if you work with them.

There is something here for everyone!

*Thank you to NetGalley for a review copy.*

With a gorgeous cover, The Wheel of the Year is a cosy, informative read about nature's cycles through a Wiccan perspective. Focusing on the eight key turning points through the year, the author offers a brief history, plus many activities and things to enjoy during the changing seasons. The book would work well as a personal resource or for research purposes, and I found it calming and restorative. As is often the case with books on this topic, the author goes for broad appeal over honing into one specific aspect, which is completely understandable, but which meant for my personal reading preferences there were many areas of the chapters I skimmed, while wanting a little more information on those areas I found more interesting. Not a criticism, but more an explanation of where one star was dropped.
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I am grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of The Wheel of the Year in exchange for an honest review.

⭐⭐⭐.5

The Wheel of the Year by Rebecca Beattie is an enchanting celebration of nature’s cycles, offering readers a chance to nurture themselves through the turning seasons. As a Wiccan priestess and nature lover, Beattie takes us on a magical journey around the Wheel of the Year, exploring eight restorative moments in nature’s cycle.

Rooted in an appreciation of the rhythms of the seasons, this book provides readers with opportunities to pause and find stillness amidst the chaos of modern life. With each chapter dedicated to a specific point in the wheel, from solstices and equinoxes to midpoints in-between, Beattie invites us to connect with the rejuvenating power of nature. Through rituals, folklore, and traditions associated with each seasonal festival, readers can celebrate and experience the ebb and flow of the natural world.

Moreover, The Wheel of the Year encourages readers to embark on a personal journey alongside these external changes. By charting their own moments of transition, reflection, and healing, individuals can deepen their connection with their true inner selves. This book offers wisdom and wonder as it guides readers towards living in harmony with nature.

One notable aspect of The Wheel of the Year is its stunning cover. It instantly captivates attention and sets the tone for what lies within. Furthermore, Beattie’s expertise shines through her writing - it is evident that she possesses a deep knowledge and understanding of her subject matter. The well-organized layout allows for easy navigation through each section of the wheel.

While this book is packed with activities and rituals to keep readers engaged, one downside is that my copy (an ARC) did not contain any illustrations. As someone who typically enjoys visual aspects in books like these, I missed having that additional layer.

In conclusion, The Wheel of the Year is a captivating exploration into nature’s cycles that will leave readers feeling connected to both the external world and their inner selves. Beattie’s expertise, combined with the well-structured layout, makes this book an enjoyable read. Although lacking illustrations in my copy was disappointing, the content itself more than makes up for it.

**ARC Via NetGalley**

The Whell of the Year by Rebecca Beattie - 5/5
Outdoors & Nature - Religion & Spirituality - Self Help

Your rejuvenating guide to connection with Natures seasons and cycles.

As a beginner, I found this seasons and cycles guide to be useful in my learning. I love learning about new things involving nature and this book caught my attention. It is warm and inviting, beginner friendly and I enjoyed the words and storytelling of this book. There are 8 chapters that are based on each of the sacred days, midwinter, Imbolc, spring equinox, Beltane, summer solstice, Lammas, autumnal equinox and Samhain. This is a book I would recommender for beginners and would make a great addition to any home library.

Available for purchase June 2023
Thank you NetGalley and Elliott & Thompson for the eARC.

A lovely book that explains the Wheel of the Year festivals and how to connect with them regardless of your faith. The author has a beautiful way of writing. The book will help you to live more in tune with nature and learn more about your true nature too as you follow the Wheel of the Year.

The Wheel of the Year is a thoughtful volume on the cyclical nature of life and our connections to it by Rebecca Beattie. Released 15th June 2023 by Elliott & Thompson Books, it's 224 pages and is available in paperback format.

This is a beautifully calming and charmingly presented guide to re-learning awareness of our natural rhythms and re-learning to live more in sync with our natural environment. Built around the Celtic calendar, there are 8 chapters based on each of the sacred days (midwinter, Imbolc, spring equinox, Beltane, summer solstice, Lammas, autumnal equinox, and Samhain).

The writing is nature based and contemplative. Suggested activities and tutorials will allow readers to connect to the deeper rhythms in their own lives as well as (no matter what our personal belief system) to slow down and *be* and *breathe*. It's written from the author's own viewpoint as a Wiccan, but for readers who subscribe to other belief systems, or none at all, there are still lots of valuable insights and activities which will be of interest.

It's not specifically written serially with seasonal activities; readers can start at any point on the circle. Whether the reader follows the prompts in order or not, there are real, proven benefits to slowing down and spending more time interacting with nature. I have no doubt that following the prompts regularly over the course of a year would give measurably positive results.

Four stars. It would be a good choice for public library acquisition, self study, homesteaders, and gift giving to a like minded recipient.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

I enjoyed this book because of its simplicity. Some may find that a bad thing, but not me. I have read other books on the Wheel of the Year and oftentimes their rituals are complicated. I do not have time to hunt down a unicorn's horn and a bat's wing(perhaps I am exaggerating, but not by much). The author goes into each Sabbats and gives some historical background. In the author's mind all our religions are more alike than we think, and she gives examples to support this argument. I loved this book so much that I am buying a copy for my collection. I think its a great addition to any witchy bookshelf.