Title: Sacred Smoke
Author: Amy Blackthorn
Publisher: Weiser Books
Publishing Date: October 1st, 2019
Pages: 176
Learn how to create a sacred space free of negativity
This clear and contemporary guide explores the ritual use of smoke and scents to cleanse the energies of mind, body, and home. Here, aromatherapist and long-time herbalist Amy Blackthorn offers the essential tools for creating sacred space—a safe space free of negative energies—using herbs, incense, smoke, and other practices.
Written in an accessible style, free of jargon, Sacred Smoke has everything you need to know to get started on your practice of purification and cleansing, including:
The importance of self-care
How to keep your home and family safe
How to protect your home while you are away
Adding crystals to your cleansing practice
Using essential herbs and recipes for creating cleansing smoke
Sacred Smoke is an essential guide for anyone seeking to practice the ritual use of cleansing and clearing to protect and heal themselves, their home, and their family.
A big thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I'm always so thankful to have these opportunities!
Usually when I read a book, I'll give my overall impressions of the book once I'm done. For this one, I got a little nitpicky and I took notes as I read.
There are several notes that the author makes at the beginning of the book that I really appreciate. Calling out cultural appropriation is something leaders need to address. If you're claiming to be an authority - so much so that you feel you're able to write a book about a subject - then I think that you have the responsibility to negate any harm that has been done in the field of the book you're writing. Well done to Blackthorn for that.
This clear and contemporary guide explores the ritual use of smoke and scents to cleanse the energies of mind, body, and home. Here, aromatherapist and long-time herbalist Amy Blackthorn offers the essential tools for creating sacred space—a safe space free of negative energies—using herbs, incense, smoke, and other practices.
Written in an accessible style, free of jargon, Sacred Smoke has everything you need to know to get started on your practice of purification and cleansing, including:
The importance of self-care
How to keep your home and family safe
How to protect your home while you are away
Adding crystals to your cleansing practice
Using essential herbs and recipes for creating cleansing smoke
Sacred Smoke is an essential guide for anyone seeking to practice the ritual use of cleansing and clearing to protect and heal themselves, their home, and their family.
Usually when I read a book, I'll give my overall impressions of the book once I'm done. For this one, I got a little nitpicky and I took notes as I read.
There are several notes that the author makes at the beginning of the book that I really appreciate. Calling out cultural appropriation is something leaders need to address. If you're claiming to be an authority - so much so that you feel you're able to write a book about a subject - then I think that you have the responsibility to negate any harm that has been done in the field of the book you're writing. Well done to Blackthorn for that.
The second note the author makes right out the gate is on ethical consumption, which is also a huge point when writing a book about herbal work. I was quite happy with those two points within the first 30 pages or so.
A few brownie points were lost when Blackthorn mentions using a diamond as a magical tool (within a diamond ring context) only because of the information we have on the diamond trade. We just made a note on ethical consumption of herbs, and I was hoping that information would be relavent to the gemstone business as well. Plus, it's just a tad classist, sexist, and outdated, if I'm honest, to assume that women are the ones in charge of the home, and will be traditionally wearing diamonds, so why not use them for magic.
While using what you've got is a sentiment I can get behind the set up for this one didn't impress me very much.
Throughout the book there are several mini sections scattered throughout each chapter.
About the Author
A few brownie points were lost when Blackthorn mentions using a diamond as a magical tool (within a diamond ring context) only because of the information we have on the diamond trade. We just made a note on ethical consumption of herbs, and I was hoping that information would be relavent to the gemstone business as well. Plus, it's just a tad classist, sexist, and outdated, if I'm honest, to assume that women are the ones in charge of the home, and will be traditionally wearing diamonds, so why not use them for magic.
While using what you've got is a sentiment I can get behind the set up for this one didn't impress me very much.
Throughout the book there are several mini sections scattered throughout each chapter.
The Brass Tacks sections are practice sessions to help gain confidence with the herbal work - which I have not completed as of this writing. I find that the outlines and information here have been helpful though.
The Changing Seasons: Rites for the Passage of Time sections were helpful - I have not completed any of these at the time of this writing.
The Featured Herbs sections that come between chapters was also helpful - I liked the high lights! There is also a featured Resin that comes after the herb page.
I will also state that there are a lot of break down for which parts of plants to use, why to use those specific parts, and other practical information that seems incredibly helpful. If you keep a Book of Shadows, Grimoire, or other such magical journal, I would recommend having it nearby to transcribe some of the information so that it's more easily accessible to you.
The Chapter on Spellwork has a decent amount of spells to try out - many with the classic, basic desires that go along with a 101 book: Finances/Money, Happiness, Energetic Cleansing etc.
After the spellwork chapter there is a chapter on combining incense and smoke work with stones. Good overview - still not too happy with the diamond story especially now that this section is in here.
Overall, a decent book if you're new to the world of herbwork/herbology and using incense. If you're old hat then this will be a lot of review. The recipes and DIY/gardening sections were decent.
4 Triquetras here!
The Changing Seasons: Rites for the Passage of Time sections were helpful - I have not completed any of these at the time of this writing.
The Featured Herbs sections that come between chapters was also helpful - I liked the high lights! There is also a featured Resin that comes after the herb page.
I will also state that there are a lot of break down for which parts of plants to use, why to use those specific parts, and other practical information that seems incredibly helpful. If you keep a Book of Shadows, Grimoire, or other such magical journal, I would recommend having it nearby to transcribe some of the information so that it's more easily accessible to you.
The Chapter on Spellwork has a decent amount of spells to try out - many with the classic, basic desires that go along with a 101 book: Finances/Money, Happiness, Energetic Cleansing etc.
After the spellwork chapter there is a chapter on combining incense and smoke work with stones. Good overview - still not too happy with the diamond story especially now that this section is in here.
Overall, a decent book if you're new to the world of herbwork/herbology and using incense. If you're old hat then this will be a lot of review. The recipes and DIY/gardening sections were decent.
4 Triquetras here!
About the Author
Amy Blackthorn has a certification in aromatherapy and incorporates her experiences in traditional witchcraft with her horticulture studies. Amy’s company, Blackthorn Hoodoo Blends, creates tea based on old Hoodoo herbal formulas.
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