Member Reviews

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of The Way Through the Woods by Rebecca Beattie.

Beattie's book is a delightful blend of practical advice, spiritual wisdom, and a deep connection to nature. The author skillfully weaves together ancient folklore, modern psychology, and personal anecdotes to offer a unique perspective on navigating life's ups and downs.

One of the book's strengths is its emphasis on self-care and mindfulness. Beattie provides a variety of exercises and rituals designed to help readers connect with their inner selves and find peace in the natural world. Her writing style is both informative and inspiring, making it easy to incorporate her teachings into daily life.

The Way Through the Woods is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to cultivate a more meaningful and fulfilling life.

Was this review helpful?

I was looking forward to this book since I fell in love with Rebecca Beattie's Wheel of the Year. Unfortunately The Way Through The Woods quickly became Can't See The Forest For The Trees for me. Dealing with the seasons as a metaphor for life's challenges, then dealing with the challenges through ritual or practice, meanwhile also joining Elizabeth on her personal journey was just too much for me.
Although the writing is excellent and easy to follow I gave up half way.

Thank you Netgalley and Elliot&Thompson for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

Thought provoking and intriguing, full of ideas and food for thought. I liked what I read and I think it can be appreciated by people who are new or more experienced
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Was this review helpful?

I really liked this book and the wisdom it offered, it is a lovely book with a great writing style which is accessible to all. I think this is a book that you can really savour with time to process before moving on. As a novice I found it really insightful.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

Was this review helpful?

It felt like a cozy read written by a favorite aunt.
it is well written and a journey through the season, it is practical about how we can align with the cycles of nature and seasons and tap into that magick

Was this review helpful?

This book was a DNF for me.

The main reason is, I read 25% of the book, and it was still focused on death and bereavement. Whilst this is an important subject, it came 10 years too late for me. However, do not take my 1 star review on its own as there are a lot of other positive reviews. When I experience another bereavement, I will try this book again.

I just think this book came at the wrong time for me.

Was this review helpful?

The Way through the Woods by Rebecca Beattie is an excellent comfort read for the green witch or nature-based pagan navigating the topsy-turvy side of life.

This gives very similar vibes to the book Kitchen Table wisdom a collection of short stories and may be good for fans of tough spells for troubled times as well.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book it was warm and cosy and so informative and whimsy. It offered practical and magical tips for navigating life's ups and downs.

Was this review helpful?

I loved Rebecca Beattie's 'Wheel of the Year', and I similarly loved this book too. Beattie has a really lovely approach to writing, and I believe it is accessible even for those who are not familiar with aspects of witchcraft. Here we have a personal journey through some of the 'seasons' of live, and advice on different ways to approach them. I read this book slowly, which I think it the best way to, taking each step with lots of thought and rumination. There are a lot of little wisdoms here and anyone can learn from this wonderful guide.

Was this review helpful?

As someone not really familiar with witchcraft (and not looking to begin a practice), I appreciated this book for gaining more insights into these perspectives. I was drawn to the book as I love learning different ways of understanding the cycles of nature, and it did not disappoint! I do think it's a better fit for those interested in witchcraft, but I think others like me would find it interesting as well!

Was this review helpful?

A nice read for beginners witchcraft. A bit too new age for my liking at times. I would like to thank Net Galley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my review

Was this review helpful?

The Way through the Woods by Rebecca Beattie uses the seasons, nature and metaphysical methods as a way to guide one through life's difficult moments. It covers topics of grief and loss, menopause and physical changes, moving and ending relationships. Beattie offers personal examples, tarot meanings, nature teachings and the fictional journey of a magical women to delve into these topics and help you find tools to help your on your own journey. I found it very different than the usual witchy book, much more personal and it was a bit hard to get used to at first. That said, by the end of the spring section I really started to enjoy the book and connect with the author and her style.
In the past I have used nature so much to help me get through the hard moments of my life and this book reminded me of that and that I can always find comfort there. I really enjoyed this read.

Was this review helpful?

Once again, Rebecca Beattie gives readers a gift of a book to fall into. Her writing is perfect and the way she talks about the natural world is so inspiring. I enjoyed reading her story and her thoughts on nature and how living in tune with it can greatly improve your life. This is a must-read for any and all nature lovers!!

Was this review helpful?

A magical inward journey for the solidarity witch. Thank you Netgalley and Elliott & Thompson for access to this digital arc. There are challenges and life events that we all have to encounter in different ways. The collective experience of many of these events can be a harder challenge for a solidarity witch, this title opens the floor for inward discussion by gaining perspective.. This title brings the steps of processing closer for each person who reads it. An insightful and intuitive read, pairs well with journaling.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I wouldn't necessarily consider this a guide, but more of a personal journey that people can relate to. I still really enjoyed the book.

Was this review helpful?

A beautiful quote attributed to Rumi is at the beginning of Chapter Eight in Rebecca Beattie’s wise and gentle book The Way Through The Woods which says, ‘You were born with wings, You were not meant for crawling, so don’t: You have wings. Learn to use them and fly.’
In this gentle, captivating book, Green Witch Rebecca Beattie sets out in a very practical and user friendly style the pathway to being able to fly once again, despite or in spite of the life pathway you have been on, or are in the process of travelling.
She reaches out through personal experience and learned knowledge, using the analogy of walking a pathway through the woods, a place of deep mystery, occasionally danger but immensely full of wisdom and healing. Rebecca is a Gardnerian Wiccan.
Dividing life’s journey into seasons is a very comfortable way to be able to take a look at how life tends to move in tune with the seasons, which also falls in with the Wiccan spiritual pathway utilising feminine spirituality and the teaching of Tarot to offer healing and enlightenment.
As you work through the chapters, which are best read carefully and slowly, there is a second tier to the story that of an archetype, perhaps yours, perhaps not but complimentary to learning, understanding and accepting the healing being offered throughout the pages.
Beginning with the Winter season, that of coldness, death and rebirth, she discusses the death of a loved one and the emotional trauma that we, in the modern world, fail to accept as we move forward so quickly, setting out a lovely incense recipe and a simple and yet effect ritual to undertake in Memory of your loved one.
This sets the style for the rest of the book, each chapter commencing with a small but significant slice of poetry, and the Tarot card relative to the topic of discussion. As each of the seasons unfold, each chapter holds much wisdom, many life lessons and a gentle, positive way towards acceptance and healing, which culminates in The Manifesto of the Perfectly Imperfect Life.
Once again the final Section commences with a lovely piece of poetry from Rudyard Kipling which leads into a most appealing statement of intent and motivation. This then concludes with the invitation to go out and find your perfect ‘tree’, sit under it, take a deep healing breath and listen to the beauty in the world around you.
The perfect ending to a charming, eloquent and very comforting book on travelling life’s pathways through the often difficult and troubling woods in which we all live.

Was this review helpful?

I appreciate the way the author delicately uses nature as a means of understanding the human experience. This is a lens I use for understanding myself and the world, and I found the work to be insightful and refreshing. An excellent addition to those that love the authors previous work.

Was this review helpful?

I went into this book not really knowing much about it and it defied any expectations. It was deeply impactful, taking on heavy topics with nuance and sensitivity. The thread of witchy ways and the importance and symbolism of nature throughout made it really beautiful. It left me with a great deal to think about and look inward on.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to NetGalley and Elliott & Thompson for this ARC. The opinions reflected in this review are my own and unbiased Thank you for the opportunity to review this title.

The Way Through the Woods by Rebecca Beattie was such an impactful, insightful and illuminating read that shed light on some heavier topics that often get overlooked when it comes to the metaphysical but their importance is significant and this book did not shy away in its approach.
The connection and personal journey the author traversed through these hard life events was genuine and heartfelt I could feel myself in that room with her beautiful mother during those sad but transformative moments as someone who has also been in that situation i felt that connection to a fellow sister and shared in that loss and transformation.
I enjoyed the aspects of each pathway and the intuitive exercises and tarot formations along with all the little rituals and exercises as you traverse each area. It did indeed as its namesake says "walked you through the woods" journeying through each path interconnecting .

I learned a great many things throughout this read and took and overwhelming amount of notations for future reference it was an absolute joy to read the works from this author and I will absolutely seek out further works.
I would highly recommend this book to all in the metaphysical world and even in general if you have experienced loss. divorce a crisis of life path or just needing insight and guidance on where to next in this crazy world we are living in you will not regret the read.

Again thank you for the opportunity to review this title.

Was this review helpful?

My biggest criticism for this book is a total lack of pictures, although that might be just my review copy that is set up this way. So many things are discussed in the book, and it would be so lovely to be able to break them down a bit by including pictures of tarot cards, altars and other magical objects.

Otherwise I greatly appreciated how this books helps the reader to deal with extremely emotional situations in an approachable and respectful way without veering too far into being overly outlandish. I will definitely buy myself a copy once it's out, and do some of the proposed activities properly.

Was this review helpful?