Publishers Weekly – August 05, 2019

Mind-Body-Spirit Books

Sleep better and longer

with accessible yoga poses,

meditation, and breathwork

from master yoga teacher

trainer and bestselling author

Mark Stephens.

OUT IN AUGUST

FROM NORTH ATLANTIC BOOKS

TOO MANY

SLEEPLESS

NIGHTS?

magicians, and other practitioners to embrace

equine magic. Lawren Leo owns New Moon Books,

Crystals, and Candles, a metaphysical boutique in

Pompano Beach, Fla.; Domenic Leo has taught art

history at Duquesne University, Youngstown State

University, and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh

Online Division. He lectures throughout the

United States and Europe.

Witches are a diverse lot, writes author and illus-

trator Sonia Lazo in Witch, Please: Magical Musings

on Life, Love, and Owning Your Power (Chronicle,

Aug.). Some witches look like the popular concep-

tions of mysterious black-clad women, some don’t;

some use herbs and crystals, some don’t; some craft

their own spells and create their own rituals, while

some rely on traditions. Lazo’s illustrations show

inclusive, body-positive images that remind readers

that anyone can be a witch in their own way.

Returning to Roots

One consequence of the popularity of witchcraft has

been the proliferation of modern interpretations,

and in What We Knew in the Night: Reawakening the

Heart of Witchcraft (Weiser, Sept.), longtime practi-

tioner Raven Grimassi argues that practices from

traditional witchcraft have been obscured. “Over the

years,” she writes, “I have come to envision the Craft

as an old tree. It has its roots, which are the oldest

part. The roots provide nourishment for the tree and

keep the tree in place so that it does not topple over.

The tree... also puts forth new branches and flowers/

fruits in each new season. I liken this to the new

practitioners and the new systems of Witchcraft that

arise over the years. However, if no one (or no thing)

tends the roots... it eventually withers and dies.”

Grimassi (1951–2019), author of more than 20

books, was a leading authority on witchcraft, the

occult, and spiritual development.

Another return to ancient roots, Slavic Witchcraft:

Old World Conjuring Spells and Folklore by Natasha

Helvin, comes from Inner Traditions in August.

Helvin learned the secrets of ancient Slavic magic

and healing from her family as a child, and watched

her grandmother and mother use magic to help

neighbors and friends. Helvin presents a practical

guide to the ancient magical tradition of Russian

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