Jasper Reviews: Llewellyn's Witches' Datebook 2022, pt 1 (pre-2022)

Okay, I need to rip into this thing before I even start following it in January. It's time to air stuff out. If you've ever gotten so pissed off at something that it made you lightheaded, you know how I feel right now.

First comes the "how to use this book" guide, which I appreciated because I'm new to the datebook scene. This was...fine? I didn't see anything blatantly wrong.

Next is a chapter called "Working with the New Moon" by Danielle Blackwood. It lists the new moon zodiacs, what they can be used for, goddesses, and crystals. No gods. I would also like to point out that Lilith, a Jewish DEMON, is listed among the "goddesses" here. Because white people are dedicated to appropriating Judaism and making demons into girlboss sexy night goddess dominatrixes.

Danielle Blackwood is very much a Wiccan if you look at her other works or even her about page on her website, aka not Jewish.

The next section is "Empower Magic with Traditional Chinese Energies" by Melissa Tipton. This talks about using heat, cold, wetness, dryness, and windiness in spells. Those of you who have even looked at a Wikipedia article about the classic Greek elements will know that heat/cold/wetness/dryness is related to the 4 Greek elements, not the 5 elements of Wuxing. You can literally debunk this by looking at Wikipedia. Windiness seems to have been randomly pulled out of someone's ass.

Melissa Tipton, if you look at her Amazon author page, is credited as a "Jungian Witch, Reiki Master, and Tarot Coach who has helped hundreds of clients transform their lives and uncover their soul's path" who apparently teaches shadow work. Shadow work is psychology, and through looking at her about page on her website, there's no evidence that she has any degrees or even experience in the field of psychology. I smell a scam.

The next section is "Using the Elements to Aid Your Magic" by James Kambos. This is fine. There wasn't much that I could say was blatantly wrong. I'm glad it didn't shove a "fifth element" down my throat.

There's not much about James Kambos other than the fact that he writes for a lot of the Llewellyn almanacs and datebooks. Even looking at Llewellyn's own page about him, there's nothing about him as a person, vastly different from the previous two authors.

The fourth section is "A Cup of Magic: Transform Any Beverage into a Potion" by Michael Furie. This was also fine, if a little too wordy. Maybe he had a character goal he had to reach.

I mean...the dude's real, he has a website and an about page on said website. I'm skeptical of the quality considering who he publishes through, but he's at least a real person.

And finally, my detested final section..."Enchanting Your Third Eye" by Sasha Graham. It's been written several times over why white people using chakras or the "third eye" is appropriation because it relies on a string of marketing moves, misinformation, and even outright racism to water chakras down to what they are now. Also, the article here assumes that the reader is a woman. (Additionally, part of her "explanation" of chakras says that they're from Dharmic Indian and Asian spiritual traditions...ignoring the fact that India is in Asia...girl, please, take a geography class.)

Sasha Graham is also a real person (the bar is low for Llewellyn) and, according to the about page on her website, has been lecturing and teaching...SOMETHING...around the world. I'm gonna guess that it's to do with tarot, considering that slaps you in the face when you go to her website. Which makes me wonder, why would she write about an appropriated and widely slammed thing instead of about tarot? I mean, it's clear that she has way more experience with tarot than with "chakras".

Official Jasper Review: 0/10, I'm going to fucking throttle the entire Llewellyn company board and whoever greenlit this project

I can't believe I spent thirteen dollars on this piece of shit and now I have to follow this for a whole year because I promised that I would...

Live better, stay organized, and celebrate your Craft every day with Llewellyn's 2022 Witches' Datebook. This wonderful tool features beautiful illustrations from award-winning artist Jennifer Hewitson, a variety of ways to celebrate the Wheel of the Year, and powerful wisdom from practicing witches.

Learn about incorporating the elements into your magic (James Kambos), discover a hands-on guide to making potions (Michael Furie), empower your magic with seasonal energies (Melissa Tipton), work with a new moon forecast for 2022 (Danielle Blackwood) and a grief eater spell (Sasha Graham). Within these pages you will also find Sabbat musings, spells, recipes, and more than 100 magical tips. This indispensable, on-the-go tool will make all your days more magical.

https://amzn.to/3jQ2MI9

Hi!! What planner are you using with the moon phase info?

Hello!

I'm so honored that you like it enough to ask. It was a present from my best friend (@soulful-blue). He knows me too well! Here's where you can find it. The title is 'Llewellyn's Witches Datebook'. It's really beautifully made. Their multiple pieces of artwork and recipes inside. I try not to post them too much out of respect. It also includes moon phases, information for gardening, and a lot of astrology. Hopefully, that's helpful! I noticed they already made one for 2022. I'm considering buying that for myself soon.

Thanks again for asking! <3

~MP

Registration is open head to @witch_city_tarot for more info I hope to see you there and Im excited to be a part of the Planning Coven this year👏🏼👏🏼🖤 Grab your tix today so you will get to see the fantastical Sasha Graham @sashatarotdiva credit: @witch_city_tarot We are so excited to welcome @sashatarotdiva as our keynote speaker, July 22-24, 2022! Sasha Graham teaches and lectures around the world. Her work has been translated into Chinese, Italian, Russian, French, Spanish, Polish, and Portuguese. She is the author of Tarot Diva, 365 Tarot Spreads, 365 Tarot Spells, Llewellyn’s Complete Book of the Rider Waite Smith Tarot, and the Magic of Tarot. She served as editor and writer of Lo Scarabeo’s Tarot Fundamentals, Tarot Experience, and Tarot Compendium & Tarot Original 1909 series. Sasha is a contributing author of Llewellyn’s Magical Almanac, 2020, 2022, Witches’ Datebook 2022, and Llewellyn’s Witches’ Calendar, 2021, 2023. Her tarot decks include Tarot of Haunted House, Dark Wood Tarot and the forthcoming Tarot of the Witch's Garden. Sasha’s evolving story (you might call it a fairy tale) just goes to show you what happens when you push forward, follow your instincts, and believe in magic. 🎟 Registration open via link in bio or visit WitchCityTarotGathering.com . . #witchcitytarotgathering #tarot #tarotconference #salem #witchcity #tarotcommunity #learn #empower #transformation #change #thingstodoinsalem (at Saratoga Springs, New York) https://www.instagram.com/stardustwanderertarot/p/CXe6IGXM5oh/?utm_medium=tumblr

Attempting 2022 Projects

In the midst of offline work stuff, doing many tarot readings over at @jasper-tarot-reader, AND getting ready to do more work, I've finally sat down and named the book (or at least, the first one) that I'm going to use for the @2022grimoirechallenge.

The Zeta Witchbook vol. 1, subtitle 2022 Grimoire Challenge (to remind myself that I'm doing that), with the date of 1/1/2022 to an un-entered final date for this copy. It's got a black cover and is a college-ruled notebook (college-ruled is best to get more information on one page, which I appreciate more than writing tall on wide-ruled).

Volumes 2 through 5, if needed because of wordiness, are the same in every way except for the cover, the volume number, and the beginning date(s) and will be filled in as needed over the course of 2022. The different cover colors are (in order of how they'll be used) blue, green, yellow, and red.

ADDITIONALLY, I have also picked up the 2022 copy of Llewellyn's Witches' Datebook to follow for the year and review at the end AND a copy of the 2022 Farmer's Almanac (I almost put "Falmer's Almanac", oof).

AND I'm going to be trying to observe different holidays related to my craft next year, now that I've got dates, numbers, and ideas ready.

2022 is gonna be packed to hell and back with witch-related work for me, clearly.

That's not even going into what my November looks like right now with a NaNoWriMo project and my own personal grimoire challenge (where I try to write at least one entry into the Epsilon Ledger vol. 1, my beloved new grimoire that I picked up from Walmart). December, please be kind and restful for me.