[Review] Otherworld: Ecstatic Witchcraft for the Spirits of the Land by Chris Allaun

Title: Otherworld: Estatic Witchcraft for the Spirits of the Land
Author: Chris Allaun
Publisher: Moon Books
Pages: 224
Publication Date: December 1st, 2020

Otherworld: Ecstatic Witchcraft for the Spirits of the Land is about establishing relationships with the spirits of the land. Many books talk about Faeries, but this book not only teaches about the Elves and Faery folk, but also how to have a working relationship with the spirits of plants, animals, and the land itself. Otherworld also teaches how to perform animal magick including shapeshifting for magick, healing, and establishing a deeper connection with animal spirits and discusses ecstatic trance techniques that will help practitioners work with the land spirits in a deep and profound way. 

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! 

This short book was a lovely balance of science and spirit, starting with the Big Bang and moving accordingly, all the while weaving spiritual lore and mythology together. 

I will say that as fascinating as the science behind the evolution of Our Earth is, it can be a little clunky to read through; it felt as if the author was rushing through the explanation (understandable as it's not the main body of the work.) 

Early on the author makes a statement that I don't agree with; the thought process that a spiritual or emotional imbalance creates disease within the body. 

This is irresponsible, and I am very tired of it being touted as sage wisdom within the spiritual community. The thought that you might be able to think yourself well or that illness is of your own doing is gross and also harms those who are chronically ill. 

It is an ableist idea, and I really wish publishers would step up and start nipping it in the bud. This sort of thinking harms readers with health issues and disabilities. 

After that this book was a whirlwind of information. There are somewhat confusing mash ups of Celtic (Irish and Welsh) mythology, as well as Native American - specifically Lakota. The author has pulled from several traditions, and others have stated that this is confusing, and I agree, to a degree. 
I'm not sure if it's a typo that was missed in editing (I do recognize that I have an ARC) but the Sword of "Nuado" should read as Nuada. 

He also mentions the Spear of Lugh, The Cauldron of the Dagda and the Lia Fal (Stone of Fal). He mentions that his practice comes from Wales, but these are Irish gods even if the author keeps stating "Celtic" mythology. That's untrue and confusing, especially for others who aren't versed in Irish mythology. 

Things progress this way throughout and while I feel that this could have been a great book, I was largely unimpressed, unfortunately. There were times I found myself skipping whole paragraphs as they related to a spiritual path I was wholly uninterested in. To go from Lakota, to Norse, to Irish ("Celtic")  was too jumbled for me to keep on task and interested in the narrative. I feel like there were three different books trying to be merged into one at some points. Not to mention he then throws in the Whirling Dervishes with ecstatic dance; this chapter doesn't feel like it fits in with this book. 

On another note, it felt largely uncomfortable to learn about Native American practices from a white presenting person. 

2 triquetras to this one! 

About the Author

I have been studying paganism and magick since 1992. I am an ordained minister with The Fellowship of the Phoenix and am also a Native American Pipe carrier. I specialize in Pagan Religious Studies, Magick, Shamanism, Energy Healing, and Native American Spirituality. One of my primary goals is to bring back the practice of ancestor honoring back into our daily lives. I have taught many workshops at events such as the Pagan Spirit Gathering and Between the Worlds.

My goal is to bring magical and energetic teachings to be accessible yet challenging to the magical student.