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Earth Alchemy
In 'Earth Alchemy', Glennie Kindred explores a powerful fusion between the ancient healing art of alchemy and the energy inherent in each of the eight Celtic festivals. This practical guide, written in Glennie's accessible style, show us how to work with each seasonal and alchemical shift, and use the natural energy of transformation to experience ourselves in a new way. It takes us on a journey of discovery, to find our gold, the source of our healing and happiness.
- GenresSpirituality
304 pages, Paperback
First published December 2, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 22, 2025
Well . . . . I really enjoyed the first half of the book. Absolutely love the idea of mapping alchemy onto the Wheel of the Year and Glennie Kindred is a well respected Celtically inspired pagan/Earth mama. I'm not sure how she would identify herself, but that's the short-hand category I'd put her in.
It's clear Kindred has put a lot of thought into mapping the alchemical process onto the Wheel of the Year and she's done a great job of making the connections. I enjoyed some of the personal stories of how she lives out in daily life these concepts and motivating world views.
However, by the second half of the book I felt beleagured and I did end up rushing through the second half. This book is WAY over-written and incredibly repetitive and by the end, with way too many personal stories as example. One or two per festival would have been sufficient. At some point, each chapter just sounded like an extended repeat of the previous one, each paragraph a long extended repeat of the one before it. I was so fired up during the first half of the book and so irritated and exhausted by the second half. The book could have been half the length and that might have helped with the physical construction of the book, which was unwieldy and uncomfortable in my hands. Usually, with a book this chunky, I break the spine so that is lies flatter in my hands or on a table -- it seems bizarre in the extreme that I'm complaining about this (who would advocate for a book to be less well made?!) -- but I couldn't break the spine on this one, leaving it a chore to hold.
Having said that, the illustrations are fantastic! If you are so inclined to enjoy coloring as meditation/rest/rejuvination/creativity, you will love the illustrations in this book, all done by Kindred and inspired by her meditations. I imagine I will keep coloring in it for a while. I will also distill the wisdom in this book down into my commonplace book as Kindred's mapping of alchemy and the Wheel of the Year does lend itself to new learning, new thinking, new ways of seeing. For that I am grateful.
It's clear Kindred has put a lot of thought into mapping the alchemical process onto the Wheel of the Year and she's done a great job of making the connections. I enjoyed some of the personal stories of how she lives out in daily life these concepts and motivating world views.
However, by the second half of the book I felt beleagured and I did end up rushing through the second half. This book is WAY over-written and incredibly repetitive and by the end, with way too many personal stories as example. One or two per festival would have been sufficient. At some point, each chapter just sounded like an extended repeat of the previous one, each paragraph a long extended repeat of the one before it. I was so fired up during the first half of the book and so irritated and exhausted by the second half. The book could have been half the length and that might have helped with the physical construction of the book, which was unwieldy and uncomfortable in my hands. Usually, with a book this chunky, I break the spine so that is lies flatter in my hands or on a table -- it seems bizarre in the extreme that I'm complaining about this (who would advocate for a book to be less well made?!) -- but I couldn't break the spine on this one, leaving it a chore to hold.
Having said that, the illustrations are fantastic! If you are so inclined to enjoy coloring as meditation/rest/rejuvination/creativity, you will love the illustrations in this book, all done by Kindred and inspired by her meditations. I imagine I will keep coloring in it for a while. I will also distill the wisdom in this book down into my commonplace book as Kindred's mapping of alchemy and the Wheel of the Year does lend itself to new learning, new thinking, new ways of seeing. For that I am grateful.
December 19, 2017
A fascinating book which combines the Celtic festivals of the year and the ancient art of alchemy (which is clearly explained for such a mysterious subject). It's full of helpful tips on how to mark the festivals and special days, communing with nature to do so, and is beautifully illustrated by the author.
Review of a digital copy provided by the publisher.
Review of a digital copy provided by the publisher.
November 13, 2023
Although the concept was interesting and there's certainly great information in here, it reads like somebody's diary and I found it hard to stay engaged. Will probably hold onto it and eventually hand it off to another witchy friend, but doubt that I'll pick it up and finish it.
May 12, 2025
go on a little adventure with Glennie and be shown how to incorporate alchemy and the celtic festivals into daily ritual to become more connected with yourself and your practice.
August 27, 2016
As ever, beautiful writing from Glennie, backed up by the most amazing pencil sketches and drawings - many of which make me want to turn them into tattoos. Not as immediately accessible as say Sacred Earth Celebrations, in that it is more cerebral, one that drips into your consciousness slowly, the ideas taking shape slowly, with the Alchemical interpretations of the Wheel of the Year. Very good though.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews