Wild Once. Awaken the magic within. Unleash true power
Vivianne Crowley
Century, 2022, 336 p. ISBN 9781529124897. £16.99
“A delightful memoir of a magical life” is a description of this book on the cover, and that sums it up nicely. Vivianne Crowley writes about how the magic within her has awoken, to unleash true power. It is the result of her journeying and interactions with many people around the world. And it is an invitation to people who have experiences from an early age that are labelled psychic or magical, and who decide to hold on to them, like she did. Her quest has taken her through Wicca and other spiritual traditions.
What I have found most important, though, is what lies behind all these traditions: for the greatest mystery is not found in temples, churches, mosques, or in witches’ circles. We can experience magic in each waking breath and each dawn of a new day. What lies at the heart of all true spirituality is the joy that comes from realising that in the depths of our being we are connected to one another, to our biosphere and, beyond that, to the living universe – an interconnection of consciousness that unites us all.
Vivianne Crowley invites the reader to places of wild magic, to experience what it is to open ourselves to the universe and to the myriad of energies that surround us. It inspires us to change the world. She tells of her carrier as a psychologist and lecturer, and bestselling author, and of how she discovered witchery at a young age. We learn about the Horned God, opening ourselves to the universe and the healing spirit. We visit London in the time of the hippie culture and Poland in the 21st century.
Vivianne describes greater and smaller rituals, meditations and magical work, in a way that I think will enlighten the reader who has not experienced such sessions himself or herself. These impressions tell not so much how, but why a person in this day and age would want to awaken the magic within and to hold on to it. Not just the author, but many more people. Witches, Pagans and Magicians will recognize a lot, but the book is also highly informative for people who know a Witch or Pagan, who have experienced a Wiccan wedding and got curious, or just anyone interested in psychology, comparative religion and nature religions.
