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A Witch's Bestiary: Visions of Supernatural Creatures
A Witch's Bestiary delves through ancient mythological records and esoteric occult sources to encounter and catalog the denizens of the unknown. It takes the reader on a journey through the most fantastical tales of animals previously known to only a precious few. These supernatural beasts are strange reflections of the true nature of humanity and deserve intense study, lest we forget our primitive origins and the animals that live in us all.
This Chthonic adventure digs through both subconscious and conscious awareness, guiding us through suppressed instinctual emotions and feelings. The lessons of the animals from these ancient stories deepen our engagement with the earth, nature, and the living beings of our planet. A keen knowledge of these tales provides a weapon against missteps in our modern-day lives. Once you better acquaint yourself with these strangely familiar mythological beasts, you will understand how they inhabit every person you meet.
This Chthonic adventure digs through both subconscious and conscious awareness, guiding us through suppressed instinctual emotions and feelings. The lessons of the animals from these ancient stories deepen our engagement with the earth, nature, and the living beings of our planet. A keen knowledge of these tales provides a weapon against missteps in our modern-day lives. Once you better acquaint yourself with these strangely familiar mythological beasts, you will understand how they inhabit every person you meet.
- GenresWitchcraftFantasy
208 pages, Hardcover
Published October 25, 2018
1 person is currently reading
147 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 9, 2021
I’ve been fascinated by mythological creatures since I was little. Their ubiquity in human history, their similarities and their differences between countries and cultures, as well as their origins are things that intrigue me and which I've always wanted to learn a little more.
Well, considering all that, I think myself lucky to have stumbled onto this wonderful book. Here, Maja D'Aoust, takes a wealth of knowledge, knowledge she painstakingly acquired as she completed her doctorate’s research, to talk to us, in the most down to earth and conversational way, about some of the best known (and a few of the most cryptic as well) mythological creatures that populate our legends and imaginations.
Most interesting, at least it was for me, she delves into why these creatures have remained in our stories despise the passing of time. And the answer is as simple as it is complex: because these creatures represent us, our wants and needs, our fears turned into—imaginary—flesh. In this sense, this book reminded me of another book I like a lot, The Uses of Enchantment by Bruno Bettelheim, in which he analyzed fairy tales in search of psychoanalytical clues to better understand our fascination which such stories.
A Witch’s Bestiary is organized by creatures, a chapter for each of them. In each chapter, D'Aoust introduces the creature in question, gives some really cool examples of literature and oral narrative that includes it, and then proceeds to weave story and understanding, exploring the needs and wants reflected in each imaginary being.
All in all, an interesting book, narrated in a easy to follow way, that allowed me to peek under the hood—so to say—of dragons and mermaids to see the human side of them.
Highly recommendable if you’re looking for some fantastic based non-fiction.
Well, considering all that, I think myself lucky to have stumbled onto this wonderful book. Here, Maja D'Aoust, takes a wealth of knowledge, knowledge she painstakingly acquired as she completed her doctorate’s research, to talk to us, in the most down to earth and conversational way, about some of the best known (and a few of the most cryptic as well) mythological creatures that populate our legends and imaginations.
Most interesting, at least it was for me, she delves into why these creatures have remained in our stories despise the passing of time. And the answer is as simple as it is complex: because these creatures represent us, our wants and needs, our fears turned into—imaginary—flesh. In this sense, this book reminded me of another book I like a lot, The Uses of Enchantment by Bruno Bettelheim, in which he analyzed fairy tales in search of psychoanalytical clues to better understand our fascination which such stories.
A Witch’s Bestiary is organized by creatures, a chapter for each of them. In each chapter, D'Aoust introduces the creature in question, gives some really cool examples of literature and oral narrative that includes it, and then proceeds to weave story and understanding, exploring the needs and wants reflected in each imaginary being.
All in all, an interesting book, narrated in a easy to follow way, that allowed me to peek under the hood—so to say—of dragons and mermaids to see the human side of them.
Highly recommendable if you’re looking for some fantastic based non-fiction.
August 11, 2022
Wiedza na temat poszczególnych istot brana jest z wielu źródeł: różnych mitologii, Biblii, psychologii, magii, alchemia, etc. etc. Dzięki temu wyszła na to prawdziwie fascynująca i bogata lektura
July 26, 2019
No review at this time
May 18, 2021
Psychopomp! What a glorious word!
Also has beautiful illustrations.
Also has beautiful illustrations.
July 13, 2025
3 stars for the pretty cover and artwork throughout the book. Not as impressed with the content. Very brief chapters about each beast, not very well written, does not flow well even in the very short chapters and is littered with both speculative and tenuous links that made no sense to me.
November 10, 2018
Fascinating, well researched and full of wonderful illustrations.
A very good book.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC
A very good book.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC
December 8, 2019
Illuminating insights into mythical creatures that features the author's beautiful artwork. Truly unique.
December 28, 2018
This is a great ensamble of different supernatural creatures, that trys to cover all the unpredictable religious legends and myths. D'Aoust has a good writing tecnique and she completes the description of the various entity with a good amount of curiosities. Over all a nice bestiary.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews