Walking the Tides: Seasonal Magical Rhythms and Lore [Black Edition]

by Nigel G Pearson, Anthony Morehouse (Illustrator)

First published as ‘Walking the Tides – Seasonal Rhythms and Traditional
Lore’, this new edition of Nigel G. Pearson’s popular book is presented
with revised text and is complimented with photography from the
author. Included is a new introduction for this edition alongside the
original introduction.

Behind the seasonal calendar celebrated by most modern pagans is
an ebb and floow of natural energies that is seldom mentioned and
whose meaning is very little understood. Those that take their practice
from a direct experience of the Land and its natural rhythms and tides
have always understood and worked with these energies, which gives
them a direct connection to the reality behind the modern festivals.

This book aims to give the reader an insight into the great rhythmic
tides and flows of energy that animate the Land throughout the year
and the natural happenings that occur along the way, thereby giving
their practice a validity that it may currently lack.

Walking the Tides describes holy days, celebrations, saints’ days,
animals, birds, herbs, trees, weather and starlore that are featured in
the natural calendar of the British Isles, and the uses to which many
of these things are put into natural practice.

Divided into four sections describing the Winter, Spring, Summer and
Autumn Tides (and monthly within these), the author gives the reader
a feeling of connection to what is actually going on around them in
the natural world, at any given point in the year.
Many books describe the so-called “Wheel of the Year”, without giving
any context, reason or validation for the practices described; Walking
the Tides takes the reader on an intimate journey into the heart of the
Land and shows what actually occurs, rather than what is supposed
to, enabling the reader to understand the rhythms and tides of the
Land around them and to formulate their own celebrations and
observances of these tides and their significant points, based on a
clear understanding of the world around them.

Much of the information given is taken from Traditional Craft practice,
but also from old British folklore, the lore of the Farm, the author’s
own experience and even Church tradition, the better to give the
reader a greater and deeper appreciation and understanding of the
seasonal flows throughout the natural year and their place in it.


Black Edition; a limited edition of 125 hand-numbered
examples, bound in black and beautifully grained recycled
leather fibres material, with black foil blocking to the front and
spine, 90gsm white paper stock, black endpapers, with
red head and tail bands.

16 pages of black and white illustrations.

Genres: Witchcraft, Paganism, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Occult, Collections, Magic

360 pages, Hardcover

First published April 8, 2009

Reviews

[Steve Cran · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a great book on the seasonal practices of natural crafter and traditional British Witchcraft then this book is for your. Author Nigel Pearson firmly believes in following the natural cycles of the year without using the crutch of the calendar. For each tide there is a corresponding season. The year starts off in November with the first cycle of winter. February starts the spring cycle, May the summer cycle and August the fall cycle. For each tide or cycle there are several sections. There are sections that tell about the star constellations that are visible along with the connecting mythology for each. There are great sections on which plants or herbs are active. Contained in this section is how to harvest them, magical uses and even medicinal uses. The author does caution the reader about which ones are poisonous and which ones are sacred to the faery folk. Ones that are sacred to the faery folk are best not messed with with. The fae are not too fond of the human beings encroaching in on their world. Mr. Pearson also includes seasonal dishes that sound delicious. Something I would like to try. Other sections include rituals to be done in the home and which animals are out and about at this time. This book is loaded with information yet the author makes it so interesting that it breezes through like a quick read of lighter reading. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and finished it in less then a week. This is a book that I will defintley reread and consult probably on a monthly basis so I can gather more information to keep in sync with the worlds energies.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I consider this book and Walking the tides by the same author, as companions. One gives an insight to the seasonal year and the other a more practical guide to the craft of the Traditional witch. These are not books about Wicca but about an older craft based on the lore of the wise woman/pellar/cunning men and women whose stories are some of the last vestiges of the old ways.

Well written in good plain language, Pearson brings the subject alive and makes it plausible and practical and very approachable.

For me personally this version of the craft makes more sense and for those who want to look beyond Neo Paganism, I would heartily recommend these books.

[Marci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of this are really good, and parts of it are highly suspect. He ascribes things to Bede that aren't in Bede and that type of thing. (Oh, and some nonsense about rune yoga, which is 100% some nonsense with no historical basis.) So while I really enjoyed it, I'm not sure how highly I'm willing to rate it. The good bits seemed good, but...