The Spirit Almanac: A Modern Guide to Ancient Self-Care

by Emma Loewe, Lindsay Kellner

From two of mindbodygreen's top editors comes an essential companion for anyone seeking a deeper spiritual life.   Taking time to nourish yourself and connect to the rhythms of the Earth can feel like a tall order when your days are packed to the brim but this beautifully illustrated handbook can make it a whole lot easier. The Spirt Almanac provides readers with potent, accessible rituals they will  want to call on again and again throughout the year to feel more grounded, aligned with their purpose, and in touch with their own innate sense of knowing.   Readers will be invited to practice and personalize dozens of routines incorporating science-backed techniques like breathwork, meditation, and aromatherapy, as well as more esoteric offerings like astrology, crystals, and tarot. Along the way, they will learn the fascinating history of ritual and trace these ancient spiritual practices through the ages to modern day applications from several true masters—from reiki healers to psychologists to sound therapists—who live and breathe this work. Divided by the four seasons, this book features dozens of ideas for spirit and soul enriching rituals   · Honor the quiet of winter and the start of the year by setting new intentions with a seed planting ritual · Come spring, try a breathwork ritual to release blocks and move forward · Celebrate summer with a forest bathing ritual to clear your mind or a crystal ritual for an open, receptive heart · Wind down in fall with a self-soothing full moon ceremony to reflect on the year   The Spirit Almanac will infuse your life with more joy, gratitude, and a deeper connection to yourself and our Mother Earth.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Spirituality, Reference, Health, Magic, Witchcraft

277 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 16, 2018

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm going to use this as a reference for some ideas but didn't finish it.
There are some neat ideas but there is some seriously questionable advice in here -- ex. putting crystals in water to cleanse them. This book is clearly geared toward beginners, and beginners might not know that water can really damage some very common crystals (ex. selenite).
What also didn't work for me is nebulous references to 'our ancestors' (whose??) and to traditional practices that are really quite specific in their origins (ex. smudging with an abalone shell) but with these origins not precisely given - felt very culturally appropriative in a number of places and I didn't even get through the first section. There were even sentences like "in some native languages, [example]" with no specifics given at all as to which languages were being referenced.

[Plateresca · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is definitely well-intended, but I didn't get a lot of new information from it. It is a hodgepodge of the basics of various theories one could supposedly define as New Age, with some pieces of advice from experts in those fields - more, in fact, like a magazine than a book.

I wanted to find some reasons to enjoy summer more - this desperately hot and noisy season in the place where I live - but the authors suppose everybody loves it already, so I didn't get much help with it.

What I actively disliked was that they mentioned paper lanterns in passing, but did not mention the harmfulness of this tradition - here's an article about this (not mine):
https://earth911.com/living-well-bein...

Then, there are things I do not quite get. Like, on Book Lovers' Day they suggest doing a Tarot spread. I love Tarot, and I love books, and I don't need a special day to honour one or the other, but since this is a Book Day, isn't it supposed to be about books? One could make a divination on a book or re-read one's favourite book or journal on one's favourite books and what they say about one... Don't you think so?

And the pages for notes - I do think this is a waste of paper. I do take notes and journal, but I think writing in a book is not practical.

But they've brought Tea Day to my attention, and it is a beautiful book, hence my rating is above one star :)

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall a good book but glad I didn't buy it (library 💕)... I enjoyed the quick tutorial on astrology, tarot, and other fun things at the beginning, but found the rituals themselves lacking. A lot of journaling, which I'm all for, but seemed more appropriate for a single millennial than a mom hoping to find rituals to share as a family. Interesting history on holidays & rituals throughout the book.

[Emily Steffel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea is good - perhaps worth a peek at the start of each season. But nothing really out of the ordinary beyond some simple (some lovely) self care tips.

[Katerina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

If you are looking into grounding rituals that bring you closer to nature, the ancestors, and the universe - than look no further.

From crystal healing to cleansing baths this book had so many amazing rituals that I would not mind trying. I loved that the authors went into the history of each topic that they brought to the forefront. There was a lot of well grounded information and I am happy to see that my own research seems to match up with other texts.

The one issue I found with this book was its beginner format. If you are a beginner who is just getting into rituals, witchcraft, the seasons, etc. than this book is for you. It has a lot of amazing beginner information. If you are an experienced individual that is looking for something new and unheard of...unfortunately this book is not for you.

I definitely think it is an amazing tool to look back on if you forget something, or if you want a simple ritual for certain seasons. Otherwise, this book was definitely formatted for beginners and had a lot of information that can be found elsewhere.

[Cynthia Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book full of ideas for creating specific rituals throughout the year and also full of ways to create (carry further) your own rituals. I liked the focus on the moon and the seasons! I'm going to be paying more attention to those going forward.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will try certain rituals.
But most of this book felt a bit all over the place with trying to tie weird US holidays to ancient practices.

[Chantel DaCosta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook on Scribd while I completed my Sunday chores. This book is a good introduction to spiritual practices and rituals.

Many of the recommendations shared are already apart of my life but there are other aspects and rituals that I'm curious about. Crystals and tarot cards top the list of rituals I want to explore.

I'm going to order a physical copy of this book and see how well it will guide me in 2019 and revisit this review near the end of December 2019.

Good for spiritualism newbies or those who are curious. Woman centred narrative.

[Mitchell Stern · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the stuff in here is solid and interesting. However it is held back by its more general New Age vibe and somewhat limited variety to the outlined rituals. Other commentators have raised the issue of cultural appropriation as well and while I do not think it is present enough to write off the whole book it is still present.

[c00l_read · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5⭐️

,,𝕄𝕠𝕔 ℝ𝕪𝕥𝕦𝕒𝕝𝕠́𝕨: ℙ𝕣𝕫𝕖𝕨𝕠𝕕𝕟𝕚𝕜 𝕡𝕠 𝕤́𝕨𝕚𝕖𝕔𝕚𝕖 𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕗-𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕖“- Emma Loewe, Lindsay Kellner🌸
Zanurz się w świecie pełnym samoświadomości i kontroli!
Książka ta to idealny start dla osób, które szukają natchnienia lub chwili relaksu. Wiedza zaczerpnięta ze starożytnych tradycji duchowych, medycyny chińskiej i ajurwedy. Znajdziemy w niej wypowiedzi lekarzy i ekspertów, oraz wiele ciekawych informacji na tematy takie jak: kryształy, zioła, joga, astronomia, fazy księżyca i wiele innych. Pomoże nam bardziej zrozumieć pory roku i czerpać z nich jak najwięcej!
,, • Zimą zanurz się w refleksji i wyznacz cele na cały nowy rok
* Wiosną wsłuchaj się w swoje wnętrze, uwolnij się od blokad i zmartwień
* Latem zadbaj o wypoczynek i otwórz się na miłość
* Jesienią świętuj swoje sukcesy i wzmocnij samoocenę”

Bardzo rzadko sięgam po tego typu książki z racji, iż nie odnajduje w nich nic ciekawego dla samej siebie. Ta pozycja to wyjątek! Bardzo interesująca, pełna rzetelnych informacji, które rzeczywiście mogą wnieść coś nowego do naszego życia. Napisana potocznym językiem, więc raczej nikt nie będzie miał problemu ze zrozumieniem treści. W książce znajduje się masa ćwiczeń, które pomogą nam się uspokoić i zaczerpnąć świeżego powietrza. Książka podzielona jest na cztery części, z racji czterech pór roku.
Dodatkowo książka jest wspaniale wydana! Zawiera mnóstwo ilustracji, pięknych wyróżnień w tekście i twardą oprawę. Moim zdaniem będzie to idealny prezent dla bliskiej nam osoby, jak i dla samych siebie!

[Fi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished reading this book today-though I have not yet finished all of the rituals that it contains!!

I really love this book- it’s one that I’ve been flipping open and referring to pretty consistently throughout the year so far- decided to read ahead today and finished it, though I’m keeping it out so I can refer back to it!

I love the rituals and how doable they are- especially how they correspond with all of the seasons and holidays, both conventional holidays and pagan holidays. I have always been very season-oriented, and this book compliments that really well, split into four sections, one for each season.

The book also includes ways to continue each ritual in your daily life, which is really helpful! And contains background information on a variety of topics. The majority of the book is able self reflection, inspiration and awareness, and focuses on how to feel more in tune with yourself.

I’m excited to keep working through this book as the year goes on!

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a comprehensive guide to homeopathic natural self-care remedies, then this is a great book for you! It covers basics in the intro- tarot, crystals, herbs, astrology, meditation, and more. Then the book splits into four distinct sections- each covering a different season. Within the seasonal sections this book goes into different holidays and rituals you can do to celebrate during the season. Some of the holidays are well known and familiar- the solstices and equinoxes, the major religious/national holidays such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, Samhain/Halloween, New Years, May Day, etc. But then the book includes some fun and random 'holidays' like kissing day, book lovers day (one of my new favs! lol), and even national tea day (another soon to be favorite). The rituals are easy to manage, if a little basic- but it leaves plenty of opportunity for the reader to tailor their practices. A great beginners/intro book to help curious readers find a starting point.

[SA · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book, filled with sensible, accessible ritual and practice that can be incorporated into any walk of life, secular or religious. I'm finding the number of contemporary books addressing ritual and magic while being notably secular (if not outright atheistic) intriguing. Not only does doing so universalize practices that are positive regardless of the context one places them in; it also sidesteps any question of whether a belief system (or lack thereof) is the "correct" one at all, to the benefit of anyone who might read and utilize these practices.

[Stormie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this and found it very useful and full of information that I was partially aware of and much that was new. It is great resource to reference back to throughout the year and I think even if you are more experienced in many of the types of rituals they have listed you can still reference back to this and implement those same rituals in a new way depending where you are in your journey. This book is useful for anyone looking to add more spiritual connections and rituals in their lives that enhance their connection to the divine/higher self.

[chrissyg☕️lattesbooksandblankets · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written! Some great information on ancient culture and exercises to help you maintain and incorporate into you daily rituals. Covers zodiacs, crystals, Divine feminine, alchemy, the importance of mantras, meditation, herbs and flowers. So so much information, expert advice as well as studies that have been done. Such a great go to and fantastic for anyone wanting to expand or learn about Metaphysics and Spirit. Easy to follow along and just enough information without overwhelming the audience. Highly recommend.

[ShopAroundTheCorner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe I've read too many similar books, but this book wasn't quite what I was hoping for. It has a lot of basic information mixed in with rituals for different times of year, but many of them didn't really appeal or seem overly specific. I did find the section on Reiki healing interesting and the author seemed to make a point of pulling from many backgrounds to inform rituals/practices and information of the book. Overall, though I appreciate the attempt I think this approach lent to it feeling 'jack of all trades' and the information lacks depth.

[Lady Iris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was actually quite refreshing and pretty good for spiritual concepts like self-betterment or self-help in spirituality. Now there were some minor issues here and there, mainly with appropriation and stuff but it had a lot more benefits than downfalls. Overall it has some really good self-betterment advice and great spells for reconnection. This book has a lot of valuable lessons and can help jumpstart any shadow work or self-help journey.

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not mean to be a definitive guide for everything spiritual, but is a fantastic reference on all things spirituality, offering a starting point to a bunch of different areas. Found it very interesting, and I scoured the sources for more books to read after I was finished. Beautiful design as well.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful guide which will keep you on a regular routine of self-care practices. It follows obvious days like new moons, full moons and equinoxes but it also incorporates modern days such as “World Kindness Day” and “National Tea Day”.

I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for structure and routine as part of their self care rituals.

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can see how this book is for beginners. That said, as a beginner, I enjoyed it! I think I’ll probably forget everything I read by next week but I hope I’ll return to it and start picking out rituals when I need more spirituality in my life. A good introductory and easy to understand book about connecting with our inner selves!

[Jennifer Pope · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me. This book is really shallow and I'm concerned the authors are unaware that there are emotions other than sad/crying.... There is some good information here (and some bad advice) but it's presented like a book report from a student who only skimmed the book last minute in order to barely pass.

[Keerthi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations, I like how the spiritual practices are suggestive rather than pushy, and understanding that different people resonate with different things. It was a very pleasant read and some thing I'll most definitely bring into my everyday practices.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book!

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another YA guide about crystals, moon phases and rituals. Good for a beginner. Beautiful cover.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how there is a ritual for all the special days. It is laid out in a way that is understandable. I quite enjoyed this book and will use it as a reference book in the future.

[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful set of rituals that draw intelligently on spiritual traditions of all sorts. I hope I can integrate some of these into my routine.

[Shyla Colt · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting in-depth look at nature based and natural rituals from the past.

[Kathy]

Vert broad and general. Likely good for someone just starting out, but not focused enough for me.

[Kat Lahr · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book to help us all get connected more to Earth's cycles, and appreciate our connection to it.

[Ethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow best reference book I've read in a while. This celebrates all self care and helps you through the seasons with ancient practice one of which I'll be implementing on new years day!