I normally don‘t talk about oracle deck guide books. But if you enjoy using these spiritual tools, you should get these decks to reward the reader in you -

The Amenti Oracle
The Heart Path Oracle
The Wild Unknown Archetypes Oracle

Each book is rich with information & beautifully written. They share facts, offer helpful tips on mindful living & make you think about your role in the world. I absolutely love them.

Do you have these decks/books?

This book reads like the author‘s personal diary & not really a “resource” on the wheel of the year. The chapters feel like they‘re musings & thoughts just pinned together to make a book. Like a “pinterest board” as an analogy the author uses in the book. While it was interesting to read how the author practices, this book didn‘t teach much. I wouldn‘t recommend it to a beginner. It‘s only skim-worthy to get ideas on personalising the wheel.

Using humour, personal anecdotes & technical information from the American funeral industry, the author helps us get acquainted & comfortable with death.

It is these humorous, LOL anecdotes, that make us feel silly for being afraid of death, while also feeling awkward for laughing about something taboo & serious.

The narration by the author is really good. Not at all grim reaper-like, as the popular narratives have told us, morticians are.

A very happy world book day to all of you! 💚🌸

This book explores two timelines and narratives - one during the Japanese occupation of Singapore and another a few decades after it.

I think books like these are really important for humanity to retain its horrifying history.

While the work could have been shorter by a few chapters, overall it was illuminating. The two narrators deserve a standing ovation for their commitment to bringing this book to life.

Just downloaded StoryGraph and love that they have a reading personality tracker.

I uploaded a handful of books from this year and already my reading personality shows that I am a reader who loves to reflect.

It‘s one thing to unconsciously know this, another to see your preferences being captured so vividly in a graph.

Is anyone else on StoryGraph? What has your experience been like?

What a phenomenal book. Comedic and heartbreaking. Such a compelling listen. Plus, it gives you so much to think about - and makes you empathise with insects too!

The narrator has done a wonderful job. This book is free in the Audible Plus catalogue (in case anyone is interested in listening to it).

As you listen to the book, your understanding of the title changes. Ruin takes on new shapes and you‘re left with a sense of awe.

Both the books are a mirror to today‘s (real) society and the story makes you think about our actions.

Adrian is a genius and the narrator has done a fabulous job. If you are new to sci-fi like me and want to dip your toes into this genre, then choose this series.

You won‘t regret it. You‘ll go on an adventure.

“Orphaned” by SL Bhyrappa is an Indian novel written in Kannada. It explores the philosophical & practical issues around humanity‘s relationship with animals - especially cows.

The cow is sacred to Hindus and is divine. But outside Hinduism, the cow takes a utilitarian perspective. The book explores which ideology is right - should animals be treated as tools meant for human consumption or should they be accorded greater respect and love?

This is my first sci-fi genre book ever, and I enjoyed it tremendously. 😄

It talks of a time when the Earth is no more and humanity searches for a new home. The book explores so many incredible themes such as genocide, racism, sexism, cultural misinformation and greed.

I loved the ending - what a spectacular alternative to reality. Definitely recommend this book if you‘re starting out with science fiction.

Children of Ruin - here I come 😃

This is a complete translation of the Critical Edition of the Valmiki Ramayana. Beautifully done and its stayed true to the source material 100%. Including the mistakes & tone changes in the source. That was very nice.

Lots of notes in this one - from word meanings to sanskrit synonyms to explanation of Hindu philosophical tenets.

Pick this book up only if you have good knowledge about the Ramayana. It goes very in-depth and can be a tad dry.

Such a heartbreaking book about a family with Schizophrenia. Their daily struggles, their contribution to scientific research & humanity‘s seemingly never ending challenge to find a reason & a cure for this dangerous condition.

The book has been very empathetically written. You feel acutely for the Galvins. It reminded me how so many of us take our cognition, speech, movement & freedom for granted. When in fact, they‘re our greatest blessings.

A really nice insight into the Vietnam war from the Vietnamese perspective. Loved the Vietnamese pronunciation of the phrases and songs. It was very authentic. Describes generational trauma and the power of forgiveness.

(Book is Not on Litsy)

It‘s an interpretation of the Ramayana & narrates the epic from the POV of five minor female characters who are important to the epic, but seldom given any page space.

The book was good, but it won‘t blow your socks off. Its unique perspective was refreshing in an epic that has been hugely male centric.

Narration was fine & authentic since the narrator could pronounce Indian names perfectly.

Easy, one time listen.

A story of loss and love set in Alaska, this book was very well written. While some of the storylines are predictable, there‘s never a dull moment. You‘ll be invested in the characters from the get go.

The author has captured Alaska‘s wildness, her imperviousness & also her love & tenderness very well. I won‘t be surprised if someone went to Alaska to find their own adventure after reading this book.

Julia Whelan‘s narration was spectacular.

I get why people like this book. The author has done a tremendous amount of research for the scientific portions of this book.

But, that scientific information started to feel like the author was showing off how much knowledge they had.

It felt as though the characters & fictional tales were created as an afterthought. Somewhere mid way, the author decided to make a non fiction book into fiction.

Suffice to say the book did not read well.

Thank you @Eggs for the tag. A very happy autumnal Equinox to you & everyone reading this post 💚. For this season, I‘ve chosen to work with the archetype of The Empress & her nurturing energy. To harvest the generosity we have received this year, despite being in the clutches of a pandemic.

In light of this, we need to be cognisant of how we live our life. We must make Choices which are in our highest good so we don‘t squander this generosity.

Opium & Absinthe was a fun one time listen - compelling enough to keep me engaged, but not particularly breathtaking in its scope. The story was a tad predictable.

But, the book brilliantly captured society‘s addiction to drugs & their consequences - especially at a time when they were peddled as medicine by doctors.

Narration was not great since the narrator tended to drop & mix accents a lot. Plus they did not have a great vocal range.

Oh my god!! Like WTF??!! This book was EPIC!

This book has to be one of the most inventive books I‘ve ever read. Even if you think you know what‘s happened, you‘ll always find yourself surprised by the way the story has been written, by the way people are represented and by the way truth and lie intertwine in a hypnotic dance.

Absolute loved this book. Very well written and narration was fabulous too. I highly recommend this work to everyone!

I‘m a pretty open minded practitioner. I try not to pass judgement because each practice is sacred - but, the way Sophie has written this book is gag inducing.

Sophie tries hard to sound young, hip & woke & sprinkles curse words in every page. Plus, there are a few dangerous recommendations in there that can seriously hurt someone.

The only thing respectable here were the two tables with information about different sexualities & preferences.

I really enjoyed this book. It was refreshing to hear from the women who normally are sidelined (if they‘re lucky enough to be mentioned in there in the first place) in the original epic - to know how they feel, hear their intimate thoughts & explore their personalities.

The only person I found annoying was Penelope, who was very whiny.

Apart from the book itself, the afterword was really enjoyable and a delight to read. 100% pick!

I honestly didn't know this belonged to the horror genre & was pleasantly surprised when I realised this midway through the book.

The author has an atmospheric writing style, which I am sure will be very cinematic (can't wait to see the Hulu series).

The first half felt a tad drawn out and I was a bit bored. The book really picks up in the second half and it's hugely entertaining.

Narration was alright. The narrator has a monotonous accent.

Such a glorious book, with so many beautiful and wonderful ways to honour the sacred power of Mother Nature.

I found that I have already been practicing many of these techniques as part of my dominant spiritual practice.

This book felt like coming home to an old friend whose love of Mother Earth equals my own.

A wonderful and must have book for anyone looking to connect with Mother Earth in an organic, healing and holistic way.

This book is a treasure trove of Hekate research from an anthropological and architectural view.

The author has done tremendous research & provided so many diagrams & photographs of ancient sites & artifacts. So it gets 5/5 for research.

BUT, there are so many spelling & grammar mistakes throughout the book, which is very jarring.

If you can get past the readability issues, this is a good work. It does not cover Hekate myths or Greek myths.

This was a fun book. The writing is humorous in parts and reflective in the others. The banter between characters was really enjoyable.

The author kept up the mystery well and although it's not a life changing book, it's good enough to entertain you.

The last one hour of the book felt a little drawn out. But it doesn't hamper the reading experience.

Julia Stevenson's narration brought the characters to life. Makes for a good one time listen.

This was a fun listen. I truly admire Vivian's zest for life and her ownership of her own agency. It's very rare that we see characters be so unapologetically themselves and it's quite refreshing.

The book is light and breezy in the first half, while briefly serious in the second. But there's nothing too serious ever and that's the point. Vivian's life is anything but serious and you'll never be bored with City of Girls. 🙂

Narration was great.

This is a very unique book. It very wonderfully portrays what may happen when we try to take the easy way out - when we go in search of the greener grass on the other side.

Characterization is great and the narration is spectacular. I really do recommend the book.

But the author has dropped really big names of artists, musicians, royalty and authors and displayed them in a really disrepectful light. This is one thing that I did not appreciate.

@Eggs Better late than never. Here's the quote you tagged me for:

Few things in the world are more powerful than a positive push. A smile. A world of optimism and hope. A 'you can do it' when things are tough.

Richard M. DeVos

I really enjoyed this book. It's description of Chinese courtesan houses and how virgin courtesans were trained, were particularly interesting.

But what I enjoyed the most was the culture of wooing, jealous rivalries and lifelong sisterhood - it touched my heart.

The audible narration is done by three narrators and they were great.

In all, this book has it all - drama, action, suspense, sex and tears. What more can you ask for?

Yay! It's here. Can't wait to dig in! More tarot books to come my way! 🙂🎉

Funny in parts, scientific in others and a bit confused overall, this book was a mixed bag, but in a good way. I wouldn't put it in the list of must-read classics, but it was entertaining to learn so much about the Paris Opera House. If there's one thing I do find commendable, it's Leroux's ability to set the scene. And I felt really sorry for Erik - why do classic writers always give their most inspired characters the shorter end of the stick?

"Pachinko" was to me, just like its namesake game. I had jumped in, hoping to get the big payout. But I ended up exiting only with a small cash prize and not the jackpot.

This book gives me mixed feelings. While Books 1 & 2 were engaging, Book 3 was needlessly long and over-sexualized.

I feel the author was hoping to write another Homegoing, but the work fell short.

You can pick up this book. It's not BAD, but its not worth the hype either.

Blah.

The protagonist Patroclus has been portrayed as a whiny, wimpy, weakling with absolutely zero talent and no desire to work hard for anything. This makes him so unlikeable.

I guess the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus was a nod towards Pederasty. Otherwise, I really don't see any reason why Achilles would like someone like Patroclus.

Characters aren't fleshed out well and this book is sub-par. Circe is a much better work.

This book! So funny and heartbreaking in turns. It's a story about a woman with dementia and how her family cope with her failing memory.

If there's one thing I'll take away from this book, it's - Stop worrying about the past and the future. Enjoy the present. Live in the now.

This book reminds us to take stock of our blessings and to renew our bonds with our family. They are all we have during difficult times. And love is all that matters.

This should tell you what I feel about this book. But if this isn't enough, I'm more than willing to submit a thesis on this....on second thought, I have better things to do and more importantly, better books to read.

Eerie and tragic. A short and compelling read. By the end of it, I was sufficiently creeped out.

This book! If you ever find yourself pitying someone - which is just another form of condescension (tbh) - stop and think about what you're doing. Better yet, read this book. Never has anyone explained so beautifully the true consequences of pity.

The characters are very well sketched - they evoke very strong emotions and you really feel the dread rising as the novel reaches its inevitable end.

A must read! Absolutely brilliant!

"Fallen women deserve to be punished"...this is Victorian mores in a nutshell. It doesn't matter if their "crime" was to become victims of circumstance; women who were in the wrong place, at the wrong time.

This book is brilliant! It turns the prejudiced and maligned accounts of the victims' lives on its head and reveals the truth.

This is a must read. It's time we restored these women their humanity and gave them the respect they deserve.

Tbh, I still don't know whether this is a fictional account of Mata Hari's real story or a translation of her letters. The book just meanders aimlessly and fails to arouse in us compassion for Mata Hari.

This book would be better read as an addition to a true historical review of Mata Hari, but not as your main source of information about her.

I felt there was too much Coelho and not enough Mata Hari in the book, like he was hijacking her.

Overall, the book was a good read. I particularly enjoyed my immersion in the world of the haenyeo and I really admire their grit.

The book explores various Korean political and military events and their tragic results - this was an interesting learning experience as well.

At its heart, the book was a story of relationships and how holding onto anger can be the ruin of all.

I enjoyed the book, but it wasn't her best work. 3.5/5 rating.

A really tedious read. The characters were underdeveloped, the adjectives used to create the atmosphere were too many and the story, quite pointless.

The premise of this book had so much potential, but in the end, dismally fell short.

Super excited to start this book. I love true crime and like most, have been fascinated about Jack the Ripper. So, when I came across the chance to learn more about his victims and how they were as much victims of Victoria mores, as they were of their assailant; I just had to know more.

How does one define tragedy? What quantifies as "true suffering"? How do people who've experienced such hardships, find hope amidst all the darkness?

This book made me confront all these questions. Such a heartbreaking book, an ode to the suffering life dishes up.

This book is about a group of down on luck people who come together out of compulsion, but stay together out of love.

There's so much tragedy here. Not for the faint of heart!

Diving into this one. It's been on my list for some time now. I've enjoyed See's other works and I believe this one won't disappoint either.

I've always believed that I would never like an Austen book, as much as I adore Pride & Prejudice. But Sense & Sensibility proved me wrong by revealing a hilarious and charming work of literature.

Compared to a few of her other works, Sense & Sensibility is a highly entertaining read.

But yes, in saying this, I must maintain that I feel, Marianne is to Colonel Brandon what a rebound is to a jilted lover. What do you think?

Such a beautiful book and such a therapeutic experience. Really loved each character and felt for them acutely.

The narrator on audible did a fine job bringing the book to life. This should definitely be on the must read/listen list for everyone.

Such a wonderful book! Hailing from an ex-colony country, I can only imagine what terrible lives my ancestors would have lived too.

This book is magnificent and heartbreaking. Everyone needs to read this and personally, I feel this should be included in the high school syllabus globally. At least this way, the truth about colonization, it's impact on innocent people, will be acknowledged.

Such a wonderful book. Really endearing. It goes to show that there is more to a person than meets the eye.

A heartbreaking masterpiece! Edna Pontellier is asleep her whole life; when an incident shakes her out of her stupor. It is then that she realises her power, her dreams, her desires. But, she must face personal and public trials to truly be herself. At the end, her final act truly allows her to come into herself, to awaken and finally gives her what she wants - complete control over her body, mind, soul and complete control over her own fate.

A heartbreaking masterpiece! Edna Pontellier is asleep her whole life; when an incident shakes her out of her stupor. It is then that she realises her power, her dreams, her desires. But, she must face personal and public trials to truly be herself. At the end, her final act truly allows her to come into herself, to awaken and finally gives her what she wants - complete control over her body, mind, soul and complete control over her own fate.