The Magick of Food: Rituals, Offerings, and Why We Eat Together

Raven, writer for the Witches & Pagans website, combines a light historicism, sensual kitchen-themed rituals, and easy-to-follow recipes in his bright, affable ode to cooking and eating. Raven dashes through examples of how different cultures (the ancient Sumerians, Greeks, Romans, and the British Isles particularly) prepared simple devotional feasts to honor deities. He then turns to food in modern culture that aims to add “re-enchantment to the mundane,” including elaborate feast dishes (such as lamb and arugula stew), cocktails and “mocktails” that can been used as potions, and a recipe for each stop in the Celtic Wheel of the Year. In order to engage a “real, visceral connection” to the food we consume, he suggests simple activities such as paying closer attention to the smell and warmth of one’s cup of tea, enjoying older or handmade dishes and utensils, and grocery shopping with one’s senses instead of just sustenance in mind. Each chapter contains an overview based on a location or theme (such as Rome or “Food and Grief”) and a final section collects recipes from all the regions and traditions Raven covers. Raven’s breezy style, focused on simple recipes and intentionality, will inspire spiritual home cooks to incorporate their beliefs into their cooking.[em] (Jan.) [/em]