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Robin Rose Bennett |
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PO Box 367, Hewitt NJ
07421 973-728-5878 |
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Book
Reviews :
"I finished reading Healing Magic yesterday. I smiled, I laughed, I cried. In short, I was moved and excited. It brought back so much of what I learned from you and with you in circle. It's given me a kick start to be more pro-active in starting a circle here. Thank you, thank you!" A. Yodice "I had to write and tell you I am on page 25 of your most wonderful book, I'm devouring it (I am slow to devour). You are so talented and this piece of work is so needed, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. I am honored to be in your midst." L. Gonzalez "I know it is said you can't judge a book by its cover, but in the case of your book the very lovely cover sure is a good indication of the beautiful things inside. I haven’t finished yet but I am thoroughly enjoying it. Along with Arundhati Roy’s writings and a few others, you share and articulate my world view of peace and possibility." S. Falkner "I have your book and it is truly wonderful, so generous, I love it." J. Salek "I love your book.I can't put it down .I'll be buying a few for Summer solstice/Christmas presents. Thank you." A. Tully "I bought Healing Magic and I loved it!!!" C. Reed "I wanted to tell you how much I appreciate your book. I received it last week and I read a bit of it everyday or so. (I want to extend the pleasure :) I think it's exactly the kind of book I was looking for without knowing it. I'm definitely a witch. I was doing by myself a lot of the exercises you suggest, but all the exercises new for me seem excellent. I tried some of them and loved it! Your book is going to the essential. I particularly appreciate the heart-centered approach. It's clear, simple and fun! All your personal stories are wonderful. I feel it evident that you really lived that way of life very deeply before writing about it. I'm really impressed, and so is my boyfriend, a heart-centered herbalist." M. De Bellefeuille "I’ve just been reading your book “Healing Magic”. I love it and I’m very excited about learning more . Thank you so much for your book, I found it very serendipitously. I think it’s what I’ve been into my whole life." G. Sedeen “When I got your email about your book, I quickly sent away for it, because I know the gifts you possess. Your book is one of the very best books I have ever read! I cannot put it down, I take it outside with me and re-read it amongst the few trees we have in Nebraska, and I really needed your book living out here in Nebraska! Thank you for giving us a book that can be incorporated into our daily lives. I feel a new connectedness to green spirits and wise women. Thank you again.” R. Bernstein “We here at Strengthen Our Sisters, Inc. truly enjoyed the wonderful book, Healing Magic, A Green Witch Guidebook. This book helps us to help all the women at the shelter and we appreciate this opportunity to learn to help others through your inspiration. On behalf of all the women and children at Strengthen Our Sisters, we thank you for this truly wonderful and amazing book.” In Struggle for a Just Society, S. Ramos, founder and executive director, Staff, and Residents, of Strengthen Our Sisters “Finished reading your book, though perhaps finished is a poor word, it will be one of those books that I read and refer to many times! You and your editor really did a superb job, and I hope it helps people to understand more about Spirit.” S. Cleary **************************************************************************************** As the title suggests, Healing Magic addresses the concept of healing, both of the physical body, the spiritual body, and of the sadly decayed relationship between humankind and the earth. Robin Rose Bennett has created a book which outlines a life-affirming, Nature-honoring path, in which magic is presented as the pursuit of harmony with Nature. The book is designed with women in mind (although several of the exercises and meditations are expressly given variations for men), with an eye to reclaiming and reviving the Wise Woman concept. Bennett introduces readers to the bounty of nature and the lessons that may be learned by working with the seasonal cycle, trees and herbs, the elements, and the lunar cycle, and how all these things interact. The word "witch" is used in a purely non-Wiccan context, which is refreshing. The lore in Healing Magic comes from a variety of cultures, but most often from Native beliefs, which are directly related to the flora of the American continent. Bennett guides the reader into seeking the wisdom of Nature through personal interaction, rather than outlining cultural and historical practice. A pleasant variety of personal anecdotes, exercises, techniques, and meditations provide a balanced approach to the material. Bennett addresses the concept of deity with reverence and the understanding that practitioners all have their personal visions of the Divine. She does not push the concept of the Goddess, as so many body/mind/spirit texts do, although she does discuss the Goddess in connection with women's consciousness groups she has founded or participated in; rather, she refers to the concept of deity as God-Goddess-All-That-Is. Bennett's addressing of the spirits of certain trees and plants as Grandmother subtly reminds the reader that the Divine is present in many forms. This gentle book does an excellent job as an introduction to a spiritual, non-denominational path that honors Nature, which is not expressly Wicca or witchcraft. A text such as this is welcome in a market saturated with Wiccan and pseudo-Wiccan 101 texts.
(c) 2004 A. Murphy-Hiscock. Originally
published in Wyntergreene, Harvest (September) 2004. *************************************************************************************** There is a scene in Michael Moore's film, Farenheit 9/11, where several Representatives go before Congress to protest the acceptance of the 2000 electoral vote. Their courage in speaking their truth even without the needed support of a single Senator brought tears to my eyes. I thought of how this courage and strength to "stand in your own power" and honor your intentions is such a vital part of being an authentic human being. Healing Magic: A Green Witch Guidebook by Robin Rose Bennett invites you to develop your intuition, to live magically with abundance of nature, working with herbs, trees, ritual and spells. At its essence, however, it is a book about becoming who you fully and truly are. It might seem odd to open a book review on magical healing with a political documentary, but if I learned anything when I apprenticed with Robin it was that living your truth means not just walking your walk at the Women's Herbal Conference or Women Gathering but letting your spirit shine through in all areas of your life.
Robin has been practicing Earth Spirit healing, herbalism and Wise Woman ways for twenty years and is an incredibly gifted spiritual teacher, healer and ceremonialist.Robin's powerful teachings come to the reader through a personal writing style that is immediately engaging, sharing practical wisdom through anecdote and example.
Whether guiding you through the Chakras or sharing a song about the moon, spirit permeates this inspiring and empowering book. Although I am familiar with Robin's skill as a writer, I was surprised at how magical a connection I felt just from reading Healing Magic. Robin's vivid and often very personal stories are captivating from the start. One story about an encounter Robin and a group of women had with a bear illuminated both the possibility of magic and the forgiveness we must have when we don't live up to our expectations.
What I was hoping and glad to find in Healing Magic was the book I always wanted after the end of a weekend or a ritual with Robin -a recapturing of the inspiring magic that we created. Healing Magic is filled with simple and beautiful practices or exercises in ritual to bring yourself closer to Mother Earth and all her relations. For example, in the section on "Moon Magic and Women's Wisdom" Robin encourages us to practice the delightful ritual of bathing in moonlight to bring us closer to lunar rhythms. What a magical way to slow down and connect with the rhythms of life.
Healing Magic will be a inspiring resource for both the experienced Green Witch, the non-denominational spiritualist and those who simply wish to awaken to the magic that already exists all around us. As Robin writes in the chapter on Engaging Mystery "you can limit your perception, but not life itself.” This book will give you tools to experience your life more fully. It is also structured to clearly introduce a novice to these practices and to be used easily as a reference guide. Sections include: Reconnecting with the Earth, Engaging Mystery, Herbal Magic, The Medicine Wheel of Magic, Spells, and Rituals. Each section contains Robin's teachings, stories and many spells, rituals, songs and practices to begin "cultivating our physical and magical senses." Where appropriate, Robin shares many sources to further expand your knowledge. Make no mistake. This is not just another book on spellcraft. Healing Magic fills a need on the bookshelf, going beyond trendy broomstick guides to address the need for deep healing that comes from the full expression of our true selves through ritual connection to the natural world. A beautifully designed trade paperback. Healing Magic is the perfect book to cozy up to this winter in front of a blazing fire, sipping a cup of magical black birch tea. It is with pleasure that I heartily recommend Healing Magic and eagerly await Robin's next literary adventure. Magic is afoot! •
Jen Prosser,
Sunstone Herbs (originally published in the Northeast Herbal Association
journal, Autumn 2004) Healing Magic - A Gift for the Nature Lover Do you know a nature lover? Are you yourself intrigued by the beauty of the simple yet profound connection we share with our surroundings and Mother Nature herself? If so, in either case, I would highly recommend Healing Magic as a new take on appreciating the wonders that the Earth has to offer us! Healing Magic is a Green Witch Guidebook written by my beloved mentor Robin Rose Bennett and I’m overjoyed to finally be able to share it with you. What is a Green Witch you may ask. Robin beautifully identifies green witches as persons with “a special love for the plants and trees of the earth…often gifted in working with them as gardeners, herbalists, artists, and teachers.” This gem of a book would be a great gift for anyone fitting into this category! I intend to fully review this wonderful book in the coming weeks, however I wanted to let you all know about it right now, being that the holiday season is upon us and this book would be such a nice blessing to so many. Robin Rose Bennett is a wonderful teacher and an amazing person in general and having her book is like having here there with you to “apprentice” you through the journey of discovering the gifts the Earth has for you. Reading Healing Magic has in fact been like revisiting my apprenticeship all over again, each page helping me to reconnect to and remember the warm, nurturing wisdom of the Wise Woman Tradition and the healing way of living in harmony with the Earth. Robin has done us all a great service by lovingly agreeing to share the wisdom she has gathered through her 15+ years of herbally helping herself and others. We are all fortunate and the world graced with one more blessing to have a book such as Healing Magic. Enjoy! Leah R. Patterson, BellaOnline's Wellness Editor ********************************************************************* Healing Magic: A Green Witch Guidebook offers an alternative path to health and wholeness by using songs, the energy of the chakras, the Native American Medicine Wheel, using magical, tree, and herbal spells, rituals, meditations, and moon magic/feminine wisdom. It also offers ways to reconnect with the mysterious and powerful energy of Mother Earth as well as the heart of who you really are. An interesting case study in this book includes how the author, who lived in Manhattan, and some other urban witches, cast a spell to catch a murderer/rapist who was preying on their city neighborhood. Stan Williams and Dominique
Jansen, New Living, September 2004 "Your book is well written, informative and useful. You did a great job on many levels! I open it at random from time to time and almost always find something to contemplate for either my physical or spiritual center." Tom Griffith, musician and Montessori teacher
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