Caroline Dow Books Descriptions

Hi Everyone! On this page, I include descriptions of all the nonfiction books I have written under the names Caroline Dow and Morwyn as well as the book I translated and the book I edited.  My contemporary Latina mystery fiction, which I write under the name Carolina Dow, is published by Level Best Books. My historical mystery series about Sor Juana is yet to find a publisher.  You can read descriptions of and excerpts from the Issy Castillo series and the Sor Juana series elsewhere on this site. If you have any questions or simply wish to chat about my books, please contact me directly at 303-443-9625 or email me to drcaroldow@gmail.com.

 

A SANCTUARY OF YOUR OWN: CREATE A HAVEN ANYWHERE FOR RELAXATION & SELF-RENEWAL

Cultivate peace & self-care with the power of sacred space. Now, more than ever, people are looking to bring a sense of harmony and balance into their environment so that no matter where they are, they can connect with spirit. In this book I share techniques for transforming any space into a haven designed to help achieve serenity and joy.

By engaging your five senses and working with the power of intention, you can create a sacred space anywhere, no matter what your spiritual background is.  My aim is to show you how to carve out your own personal refuge at work, in your car, or even in a hotel room. I also share tips for designing your own altar, getting rid of clutter in a way that is appealing and life-affirming, and establishing spaces to share with family and friends.

Whether you want to facilitate a meditation practice or express your personal interests and cultural background, this guide with easy-to-implement ideas shows how to take small steps that get big results. With examples from cultures around the world and practical ideas for incorporating colors, fragrances, botanicals, gemstones, textiles, and even special numbers, A Sanctuary of Your Own will help you fashion a perfect space where you can feel safe, relax, and rejuvenate. This book is available from Llewellyn Worldwide, Amazon, or if ordered on my products page, signed by me.

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT’S YOUR POTION?  LIQUID REFRESHMENTS TO NOURISH BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT               

Written under my pseudonym Morwyn

Includes 50 color illustrations. 118 recipes to stimulate everything from love to prosperity, communications, spirituality, and more. Includes myths, legends, nutritional information, more. This compilation is the result of many years working with fruit, vegetables, and herbs. $29.95. I know the price is steeper than for most books, but this is a coffee table-style book and makes a fabulous gift.

Create over 100 liquid refreshment recipes to enhance good health and uplift your body, mind, and spirit. By tapping into both my Latin American and European cultural background, I hope this book will inspire you with charming and easy-to-make beverages. Based on the concept that mindful consumption can help a person attain self-fulfillment and self-realization, emphasis is placed on the enjoyment of smoothies, teas, coffees, cocoas, soups, and sauces.

Additionally included are nutritional facts and traditional folklore associated with drink ingredients, as well as details of culinary, medicinal, and folkloric attributes of common fruits and vegetables used. Although theories behind the psychological effects of potions based on folklore, color symbolism, and the four elements of Nature—air, fire, water, and earth—are put forth, the reader does not need to subscribe to these theories to take pleasure in producing these wonderfully spirit-lifting recipes. Open your heart to the potion that will nourish your soul!

This book is available through Schiffer Publishing (Schiffer Books), Amazon, and if you order from me, I will sign a personal copy for you. 

 

THE HEALING POWER OF TEA: SIMPLE TEAS AND TISANES TO REMEDY AND REJUVENATE YOUR HEALTH

Perfect for this time of year or really, any time. The Healing Power of Tea is filled with “tea-riffic” knowledge and is a comprehensive guide to the healing world of teas and tisanes to help you live a healthier and happier life. And who doesn’t want that?

From black to green to oolong to white, you’ll discover detailed chapters on different tea types, their advantages, and an extensive list of ailments and what blends will alleviate them. Whether you’re an expert tea drinker or a new convert, or just thinking about trying tea, I hope you will discover the many delicious benefits of tea and herbal infusions in these pages. 

Read about tea’s fascinating history, recipes, and take advantage of the easy-to-use reference guide. Learn about blending, preparation, and consumption, and how to grow your own herbal tea garden. With both healing and preventative uses, tea is an ideal choice for healthy living. This book is available from Llewellyn Worldwide, Amazon, or if ordered on my products page, signed by me.

 

 

 

 

                         

TEA LEAF READING FOR BEGINNERS

Is it possible to get yourself on the path to better health and make it a fun experience, expand your social network, and at the same time discover nuggets of wisdom about your character and clues to your future? Tealeaf Reading for Beginners:  Your Fortune in a Teacup shows you how to unlock the secrets of one of the most satisfying leisure activities you will ever enjoy, and more. Learn tantalizing recipes for hosting tea parties, facts about tea as a health drink, herbal teas, tea as a culinary ingredient, as well as famous tearooms around the world to visit and the fascinating customs, superstitions and legends connected with these diversions. This book is guaranteed to fascinate and engage friends and family in a gentle, time-honored pastime that is regaining popularity along with the current tea craze. It is a perfect book for these times when many of us need to stay home more frequently because of the pandemic.

This book received an award for Best Book in the State of Colorado from Colorado Authors League.

Publisher:  Llewellyn Worldwide.

 

 

 

Books About Brazilian Folk Religions

As you probably already have read, I traveled to Rio de Janeiro as a Fulbright Fellow. What you probably don’t know is that I was researching my dissertation topic that had to do with a nineteenth-century Brazilian military book. A far cry from Brazilian magic and folk religions. While I was there, I realized that if a person really wanted to get to know Brazilians and understand the country, you had to know about these folk religions. For a while I lived in a household of macumbeiros, people who followed the Macumba tradition. I attended many rituals and events, and eventually was allowed to participate as if I were an initiate because I was a priestess of Wicca back home. Following are the books I have translated or written about Brazilian magic. The last book, Pomba-Gira Spell Book, is finished, but is still in search of a publisher. Keep checking back on this site to find out when it will be released.

Magic from Brazil is also available also in Portuguese from Espelho Mágico (ISBN:  972-33-1389-8) and in Spanish from Integral (ISBN:  9-788479-014230) and in Russian.

Name: Morwyn
Book Title: Magic from Brazil:  Recipes, Spells and Rituals
Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide. Also available through Amazon or on this website under Products.

“It is a welcome addition to the literature on this powerful religious phenomenon that encompasses the Brazilian soul.” – Migene González-Wippler

“…a beautiful piece of scholarly study with great human interest…A whole new range of flavors and delights to almost hear the rhythms as you read. The at-one-ment in the book is a special gift from the keyboard of Dr. Carol Dow.” – Harvey Mucklin, The Water Garden Network

“A must-read for anyone interested in African-inspired traditions.” – Elizabeth Barrette, Hypatia’s Hoard

“…a wonderful overview (with) sound instructions for those who wish to explore this wild, passionate approach to religion. Highly recommended.”Craft/Crafts

“This book is a powerful illustration of the interconnection between peoples in the web of life as well as a thoroughly enjoyable read. Highly recommended.” – Janet K. Dugan, New Moon Rising

Exceptional!” – Lex Ticonderoga, Public News Service

“For too long the image of such beliefs in the West has been sensationalized and it is good that more positive views of their worth are now being presented to the world.”The Cauldron

Description: Almost 200 million people are believers in a religion that is little known in this country.  Now for the first time in the English language, here is an insider’s look at these popular sects of the Brazilian mystery religions.  MAGIC FROM BRAZIL delves into the spiritual roots of these sects and shows how the deeply-felt magickal beliefs affect all aspects of people’s lives.  It also explains how these venerable neo-African practices are linked to the Great Western Mystery Tradition.

While researching in Brazil on a Fulbright-Hayes Dissertational Research Grant, I studied the religions of Macumba, Umbanda, Candomblé, Xangô, Spiritism, and other traditions.  She attended ceremonies as an honorary initiate, interviewed heads of sects, took photos, recorded music, and collected artifacts.

 If you are intrigued by channeling, color magic, the magic of sound (especially drumming), nature religions, naturopathic healing, and even psychotherapy, this book will enhance your understanding and appreciation of these areas.

Learn valuable practices to incorporate into your own life and spiritual orientation.  Call the powers of the deities of the Brazilian pantheon.  Practice Brazilian-style meditations, spell work, rituals, trance, and mediumship. Experience the energies of tropical botanicals that are used in Magick and healing.  Sample Brazilian cuisine—the food of the gods.

This book is a repackaging of the earlier Saravá volume.  Although similar, it includes expanded information and is geared toward those who practice Wiccan, Celtic, Druidic, Dianic, Norse, Strega, and Ceremonial traditions.

 

Name: Caroline Dow, translator

Book Title: Pomba-Gira:  How to Invoke the Formidable Powers of the Female Messenger of the Gods
ISBN: none
Publisher: Technicians of the Sacred
Accolades:

“Excellent!  A mystical blend of academic research and personal experiences. A must-read for anyone interested in the Afro-Brazilian religious and magical experience.” – Courtney Willis, Technicians of the Sacred

Description: This book plumbs the secrets of the Brazilian folk religions of Macumba and Umbanda.  Morwyn has translated this key work from the Portuguese about the most controversial entity in the Brazilian pantheon—Exu, and his female counterpart, Pomba-Gira.  Secret rites, difficult to obtain in Portuguese and never before divulged in English, are now available through Morwyn’s translation.  An extensive introduction and footnotes explain the material for those not familiar with the tenets and jargon surrounding these sects.  This is a one-of-a kind book.

This book is currently undergoing reprinting. Check to find when the second edition will be available.

The Pomba-Gira Spell Book

The Pomba-Gira Spell Book

Forthcoming! I have has spent several years channeling directly from the Pomba-Gira information about meditations, spells, rituals and recipes designed to contact and work with the scintillating vibratory line of this special entity. I’ve kept an assiduous record of each channeling session, and now offer the information I have received (with the Pomba-Gira’s permission, of course) to the general public.  I am still searching for a publisher for this book. Keep checking this website for release date.

Description: In Brazilian folk religions, Pomba-Gira is the entity who governs love, passion, beauty, desire, and sex. This entity covers every aspect of femininity from Maiden to Mother and Crone. In THE POMBA-GIRA SPELL BOOK, an original sequel to Pomba-Gira:  Female Messenger of the Gods (my translation), I reveal spells, rituals and meditations to help readers achieve their heart’s desire and understand the nature of true love.

Among other workings, you will learn to:

  • Enhance inner and outer beauty;
  • Attract the perfect soul mate;
  • Unmask jealousy and deceit;
  • Keep a mate from wandering;
  • Defeat rivals;
  • Exude irresistible sex appeal;
  • Regain lost youth;
  • Conquer personal bad habits.

The entire work is the result of my study, research and personal experiences with popular religion sects in Brazil. Research is based on primary sources written in Portuguese, a language which most English-speaking readers do not have available. The work is one of the very few on the subject published in English, most previous works having been published by the author.

Because I am able to span both the Brazilian and American spiritual worlds, I hope to inform English-speaking readers in easily comprehensible terms. Unlike many books and articles on the subject that offer an academic perspective, this book is written in a friendly, straightforward manner that is easy to understand. The Terms at Your Fingertips section provides a quick reference glossary of Portuguese terms.

The Portuguese pronunciation guide is valuable for those who have not yet mastered this difficult-to-pronounce language. An updated bibliography of complementary titles and Internet resources is useful to the reader who wishes to expand knowledge of the subject. The appended essays on popular religions in Brazil and the entity Exu serves as a useful introduction for readers who wish to understand more about the complexities of various Brazilian spiritual paths.

BOOKS ABOUT WICCA AND OTHER ESOTERIC SUBJECTS WRITTEN UNDER MY CRAFT NAME, MORWYN

These books are available for sale on the Products page of this website. Although they are available from the publisher, it is preferable that you order from me directly. Thank you. Again, you can  e-mail me with questions to drcaroldow@gmail.com or call me at 303-443-9625.

 

WHAT’S YOUR POTION?  LIQUID REFRESHMENTS TO NOURISH BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT               

Written under my pseudonym Morwyn Published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd.

Includes 50 color illustrations. 118 recipes to stimulate everything from love to prosperity, communications, spirituality, and more. Includes myths, legends, nutritional information, more. This compilation is the result of many years working with fruit, vegetables, and herbs. $29.95. I know the price is steeper than for most books, but this is a coffee table-style book and makes a fabulous gift.

Create over 100 liquid refreshment recipes to enhance good health and uplift your body, mind, and spirit. By tapping into both my Latin American and European cultural background, I hope this book will inspire you with charming and easy-to-make beverages. Based on the concept that mindful consumption can help a person attain self-fulfillment and self-realization, emphasis is placed on the enjoyment of smoothies, teas, coffees, cocoas, soups, and sauces.

Additionally included are nutritional facts and traditional folklore associated with drink ingredients, as well as details of culinary, medicinal, and folkloric attributes of common fruits and vegetables used. Although theories behind the psychological effects of potions based on folklore, color symbolism, and the four elements of Nature—air, fire, water, and earth—are put forth, the reader does not need to subscribe to these theories to take pleasure in producing these wonderfully spirit-lifting recipes. Open your heart to the potion that will nourish your soul!

 

Name: Morwyn
Book Title: GREEN MAGIC:  THE HEALING POWER OF HERBS, TALISMANS AND STONES
ISBN: 0-924608-18-8
Price: $16.95 +$3 domestic postage
 Publisher: Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
Accolades:

“I was entranced,”  – Amazon Reviewer from Champaign, Illinois

“If you are interested in herbalism and magic, I recommend this book highly.” – Scott Geary

Description: In this third book in the Morwyn series, the author shares with readers the wealth of her accumulated knowledge about the medicinal and folkloric uses of herbs, talismans, and precious stones. Both casually interested readers and those seasoned in the field will benefit from this compendium of facts and lore of over 100 botanicals and stones.

Morwyn offers a special perspective on the interrelationships between botanicals, teas, gemstones, and talismans, and shows how to incorporate them into meditations, rituals, and spells.  You also learn the basics of tea leaf reading.

 

Name: Morwyn
Book Title:  WITCH’S BREW:  SECRETS OF SCENTS
ISBN: 0-924608-19-6
Price: $16.95 + $3 domestic postage
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
Accolades:

“Those new to the wonderful world of scent will discover fascinating information and useful directions that are easy to follow.  This is a veritable encyclopedia of data on scores of perfumes and other fragrance materials…an invaluable guide for the use of scents.”  – The Midwest Book Review

“Morwyn cooks up a cauldron of delights.” – Amazon Reviewer

“I don’t think there’s a scent not described.” –  Amazon Reviewer

Description: You don’t have to attend one of Morwyn’s famous perfumery workshops to derive the benefits of the information she offers. This groundbreaking volume on the psychological effects of scents is the outgrowth of the many classes Morwyn has taught on the subject of perfumery.

The author details the history, lore, and uses of perfumes, incenses, magickal sachets, potpourris, baths, and other fragrance formulas. Then she applies this knowledge to perfumery and psychic healing.

Learn to whip up recipes and perform meditations and rituals to brighten your life with a little fragrance magic. The book includes a veritable encyclopedia on scores of perfumes and other fragrance materials.

 

Name: Morwyn
Book Title: WEB OF LIGHTRITES FOR WITCHES IN THE NEW AGE
ISBN: 0-924698-17-X
Price: $19.95 + $3 domestic postage
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
Accolades:

“Meditation, spirituality and maturity are the qualities Morwyn brings to light…I definitely look forward to reading the rest of her series.” – Selene, Magical Blend Magazine

Description: Web of Light describes in vivid detail the secret rites performed in the Wiccan world. Meditations for psychic self-development, spells, enchantments and celebrations that have been handed down over generations are all explored.

Learn to create the magick circle and perform rites designed to expand your self-awareness, achieve your heart’s desire, and connect with the All One.  Includes a fascinating appendix on tree lore.

THE COMPLETE BOOK OF PSYCHIC ARTS: DIVINATION PRACTICES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Name: Morwyn
Book Title: THE COMPLETE BOOK OF PSYCHIC ARTS:  DIVINATION PRACTICES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
ISBN: 1-56718-236-4
Price: $14.95 + $3 domestic postage
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
Accolades:

Winner of the Coalition of Visionary Retailers’ Visionary Award at the International New Age Trade Show (INATS)

Description: Everyone, it seems, wants to know the future.  If you’ve ever wondered how psychics are able to foresee upcoming events, which divination practices work best, or even whether or not you may be psychic, The Complete Book of Psychic Arts provides the answers.

This comprehensive guide first looks at divination practices around the world from ancient times to the present.  Next, experienced channelers and psychics reveal their stories; from how they knew they were psychic to what they do to keep their abilities on target.  Finally, you’ll learn how to develop your own psychic abilities using palm reading, crystal gazing, psychometry, and other techniques.

An additional resource section includes:  A list of over 100 divinatory practices; a glossary of essential terms; a complete bibliography, a directory of psychics and channelers from around the world.

In this book you’ll find everything you need to know to develop your own psychic skills and enhance your life with divination.

 

 

Name: Morwyn
Book Title: SECRETS OF A WITCH’S COVEN
ISBN: 0-914018-80-X
Price: $19.95 + $3 domestic postage
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
Accolades:

“One of the most intelligent books I have read in a long time.” – Amazon Reviewer

“Chock full of information, but it is so easy to understand and makes such good sense that it is a joy to read.” – Amazon Reviewer

Description: Since the advent of Christianity, Wiccans have been forced to practice their religion in secret.  Now Morwyn reveals the wonders and beauty of this ancient mystery tradition to all sincere seekers.  The author has written a series of books that comprise a comprehensive collection of teachings and is a complete course of initiation into the first degree of Wicca and beyond.

In this first volume in the series, Morwyn makes available the accumulation of four decades of her study, work, and practice in North and South America and Britain.  All facets of Wicca, Magic, and Occult spirituality are covered, including gods and goddesses, circle-casting, herbs, crystals, precious stones, talismans, candle magick, tree magick, symbols, incense-making, full moon and Sabbat rites, and much more.  The spellbinding histories of Witchcraft and Ceremonial Magick are also presented.

While many newcomers to the field have written books about the Craft, Morwyn’s series is one of the first, traditional, and long-standing.  If you’ve ever wondered what Wiccans do and how they do it, here are the answers.

 

 

Name: Morwyn, editor, authors, inmates from the Colorado Department of Corrections.
Book Title: Tales from the Inside.
Price: .  On sale for $10. + $3 domestic postage.
Publisher: LULU.com

I have only around a half dozen copies left; if you wish to purchase this book, you need to go through me on the products page.
Accolades:

“The incredible inner journeys toward maturity that these inmates traverse, and the obstacles they encounter while grappling with their past mistakes and failings are a rousing testimonial to the triumph of the human spirit.” – Roscoe Betunada, Inmate Counselor.

Description: Inmates from the Colorado Department of Corrections have astounded the literary world with a book of short stories, poetry, essays and art about their efforts to rehabilitate themselves inside state correctional institutions. The book’s release coincides with announcement of the Governor of Colorado’s plan to reduce recidivism in the prison system. Tales from the Inside is published through Lulu.com both in print and online.

These stirring stories, told in vivid detail, give valuable insights about the personal trials and adjustment challenges prisoners confront and the sweet rewards they sometimes reap in the most unexpected places. The entertaining tales, many couched in fictional terms, offer inspiration, motivation, and sanctuary to those who dwell both inside and outside prison walls.