Herbal Tea for the Pagan Spirit: Inspirational Stories of the Pagan Path by Emerys Somerled. Three Moons Media, ISBN #0-9725164-1-7, 142 pages
Herbal Tea for the Pagan Spirit is a collection of stories shared by many pagan hearts and souls. Some accounts deal with coming-out experiences and finding unexpected acceptance where the writer had feared anger or exclusion. Other contributors share tales of the way the Goddess gave them signs about their paths that were too clear to ignore and showed them the best way to proceed. There are tales of cherished familiars, risking love, standing on holy ground and finding strength and wisdom in the forces of nature that far transcend the self.
The editor of Herbal Tea for the Pagan Spirit, Emerys Somerled, is owner of Spiritual Elements, a metaphysical shop in San Jacinto, California. He has been visible and vocal in the pagan community as a teacher, Celtic priest, interfaith council member and gatherer of tales. Upon realizing how many pagan stories went unheard, and feeling the need to connect pagans everywhere with shared experiences and feelings, Emerys set about the task of soliciting submissions. It seemed only logical to enlist the advertising help of the WitchVox Web site, which gets thousands of hits every day. Response from pagans was tremendous, and manuscripts poured in.
Emerys chose Three Moons Media, who had expressed an interest in a small number of new Craft volumes, as an outlet for his project, and was elated when his self-publishing efforts and contacts paid off. The result is a book as intimate as the passing of a talking stick around a sacred fire. Narratives are sifted into chapters such as: "Pagan? What's That?"; "Spirituality in Modern Paganism...Is It Just Fluff?"; "Coming Home"; "Re-Creating Yourself"; "Sacred Space"; "The God/dess Within"; and "Living Pagan -- Life, Love, Humor."
Although the majority of authors are from earth-based traditions, the selection that left the most profound impact on me is a piece called "The Stone," written by a young man who is Christian. Mourning the suicide death of a friend, he finds unexpected consolation and spiritual renewal from a massive stone, whose endurance and healing flood his being.
I hope that this Herbal Tea is only the first volume in a continuing series of true pagan sagas and heart-felt confidences. My only regret about the book is that it ended with so many stories still remaining to be told, and that perhaps too much time was taken in setup or analysis at the beginning of each chapter.
Although this volume was not yet available from mainstream bookstores when I called around, it is well worth seeking out. In short, Herbal Tea for the Pagan Spirit is the most uplifting, gratifying brew for pagans to come along in many a millennium. Blessings to Emerys Somerled for lifting up the cup that is ever filled.
Copies cost $12.95 plus shipping and handling and may be ordered through the publishers at www.threemoonsmedia.com or purchased online at www.booksurge.com. For further information regarding Herbal Tea orders, as well as scheduling book signings, workshops and events with Emerys Somerled, please email the author at myrddann@earthlink.net.