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Rating: 
Summary: The one that changes your faith
Review: For nearly every religious person, there seems to be one experience (sometimes more) or one book or one person that brings your faith to life and shows you how to live and breathe it day to day. For me, as a Wiccan, reading this book was that life-changing experience. Pauline and Dan Campanelli have laid out and illustrated in WHEEL OF THE YEAR the activities and festivals, spells and charms, stories and lore that make up their own way of celebrating the seasons every day in and around their home in rural New Jersey. The book is organized by months, beginning in Decemeber and continuing through November, highlighting not only the Sabbats and full moon celebrations, but day to day activities, etc, that are appropriate to the time of year. For example: the DECEMBER section includes the symbolism and magical uses of holly and ivy, and how and why to make a bayberry candle charm; JANUARY has much information about crafts to do and magical ways to do them while you're spending so much of your time inside; FEBRUARY is full of ways to develop psychic abilities and includes a ritual for Valentine's Day that helps open your heart chakra; JULY talks about ways to collect and magically use seashore items, and how and when to harvest and use certain magical herbs. And lest you think these categories too narrow, the above are just small examples from chapters literally packed with interesting things to learn and do. It may sound as though the Campanelli's perspective is rather limited, since they're writing only about their own celebrations, but they do SO MUCH that it's almost impossible NOT to find something in each chapter that you can use. You may wonder how a city witch could use this book written by country witches, but I'm a suburban/city witch myself (though not by choice) and I use it frequently. You may also wonder how you can use certain seasonal ideas if you live in a place where "traditional" seasons just don't happen. Rest assured, however: I live in Southern California -- where Dry and Hot and Somewhat Dry and Cool are the only seasons -- but I can absolutely use this book seasonally. This is the book that inspired me not just to believe Wiccan and act Wiccan and talk Wiccan, but to DO Wicca every day. I can't use everything in here, but what I can't actually do I use as a starter for seasonal meditations, or just as lovely escape reading about the kind of magical country life I dream of living. (The book is quite well written.) Whatever your limitations, unless you are a thoroughly modernized city witch with little need for connection with nature or "the old ways" (how many witches like that do you know?), you will almost certainly enjoy and use this book.
Rating:
Summary: The one that changes your faith!
Review: For nearly every religious person, there seems to be one experience (sometimes more) or one book or one person that brings your faith to life and shows you how to live and breathe it day to day. For me, as a Wiccan, reading this book was that life-changing experience. Pauline and Dan Campanelli have laid out and illustrated in WHEEL OF THE YEAR the activities and festivals, spells and charms, stories and lore that make up their own way of celebrating the seasons every day in and around their home in rural New Jersey. The book is organized by months, beginning in Decemeber and continuing through November, highlighting not only the Sabbats and full moon celebrations, but day to day activities, etc, that are appropriate to the time of year. For example: the DECEMBER section includes the symbolism and magical uses of holly and ivy, and how and why to make a bayberry candle charm; JANUARY has much information about crafts to do and magical ways to do them while you're spending so much of your time inside; FEBRUARY is full of ways to develop psychic abilities and includes a ritual for Valentine's Day that helps open your heart chakra; JULY talks about ways to collect and magically use seashore items, and how and when to harvest and use certain magical herbs. And lest you think these categories too narrow, the above are just small examples from chapters literally packed with interesting things to learn and do. It may sound as though the Campanelli's perspective is rather limited, since they're writing only about their own celebrations, but they do SO MUCH that it's almost impossible NOT to find something in each chapter that you can use. You may wonder how a city witch could use this book written by country witches, but I'm a suburban/city witch myself (though not by choice) and I use it frequently. You may also wonder how you can use certain seasonal ideas if you live in a place where "traditional" seasons just don't happen. Rest assured, however: I live in Southern California -- where Dry and Hot and Somewhat Dry and Cool are the only seasons -- but I can absolutely use this book seasonally. This is the book that inspired me not just to believe Wiccan and act Wiccan and talk Wiccan, but to DO Wicca every day. I can't use everything in here, but what I can't actually do I use as a starter for seasonal meditations, or just as lovely escape reading about the kind of magical country life I dream of living. (The book is quite well written.) Whatever your limitations, unless you are a thoroughly modernized city witch with little need for connection with nature or "the old ways" (how many witches like that do you know?), you will almost certainly enjoy and use this book.
Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended.....
Review: I love this book. I've been using it for several years and recommend it as a good monthly guide for `Living the Magical Life' year round. If you want to learn more about keeping the Wiccan calendar this is a good source. You can begin living the magical life anytime, as each solar cycle brings a wonderful progression of the old holidays. WHEEL OF THE YEAR shows you that even in months without a major holiday, there are many opportunities to reconnect with the ground of your being and celebrate the seasons of Nature and the natural world.
If you are inclined to connecting with the other world, Samhain is the best time to undertake living the spiritual life. October is nearly here, and thus Samhain and the New Year are upon us, making this is an especially good time to buy this book.
The text is interesting and contains many nice illustrations. As the book is printed on soft paper with a soft cover, you can take it out doors where many practices are to be undertaken. It won't hurt the book one bit if you spill a little oil or candle wax on it.
Rating:
Summary: A poetic look at living with the seasons
Review: Quite similar to "Ancient Ways," by the same author and illustrator, the Campanellis return with "The Wheel of the Year" to further promote living the magical life. This book is just as invaluable a resource as "Ancient Ways" was, and is organized by months where "Ancient Ways" was organized by Sabbat. The in depth discussions of the Esbats (Full Moon rituals and symbology associated with them) for each month were well crafted, and a subject quite underwritten in Pagan and Wiccan references. The crafts for each month are likewise well thought-out, and varied enough that there are a few gems in hiding for every reader. Give "The Wheel of the Year" a shot, and put it alongside "Ancient Ways," on your bookshelf. Together, they make a nearly complete reference guide for the year of Sabbats and Esbats, Rituals and Crafts, and the legends and myths and stories that make up the Wiccan year.
Rating:
Summary: Country witchery for city pagans
Review: The Campanellis bring the country into the kitchen for us city pagans who never lived on a farm. From corn dollies to folksy arts and crafts traditionally associated with each season we learn to be connected with a way of life we can only dream about. We recommend it for all our coven members and others who want to be in tune to the ancient harvests of the earth. Thank you Pauline and Dan for bringing the earthly magic into our lives.
Rating: 
Summary: Not quite what I expected...
Review: This is another book that I had on my shelf for a long time before I got around to reading it. It has many different crafts for the different seasons of the year. This book has a chapter for the different season. It starts with December (Yule time) and ends with November. The author tells a lot about the way she and her husband celebrate the seasons, therefore it is very country-oriented book. They live on a farm and many of us don't, so some of the practices would be impossible for us :) I'm sure there are many of you out there who have gardens and choose to grow your own herbs, so this book would be very good for you as well.
It's also has some nice artwork from the author's husband.
Enjoy!
Blessed Be!
Rating:
Summary: How did I ever get along without it?
Review: While there may not be much practical information in here for the pagan who lives in a dorm room or a tiny apartment in a huge city, this book is still helpful in a number of ways. First, each month has an entire chapter dedicated to it and is put together beautifully. If you do live out in nature, have a garden, or just enjoy visiting the elements from time to time, you'll find the opening of each chapter exciting as the author describes what is happening throughout the year with nature and the elements. Then there are descriptions of the pagan holidays/celebrations for each month, in addition to a bit of history behind each holiday. And of course there are spells and rituals and recipes for each occasion, which can be interesting to try out. My favorite part is that each chapter ties in with the one before and after it. The continuity of the year is really focused on and explored throughout the book and you don't get the impression that one month/season abruptly ends when the next begins. This book should not be considered an all-inclusive resource on pagan holidays/living, but it makes a great addition to your library and I've read it over and over each year for about 3 years now, and still find it helpful.
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