This short book is a wider overall view of the close relationship between humans and the canine species from the Stone Age to the present-day. It begins with a history of the various breeds and how they developed over thousands of years together with their magical and folkloric significance. Recommended. ~ BM Cauldron, BM Cauldron

Another wonderful Shaman Pathways book by Melusine Draco. Packed full of information about man’s best friend it covers the history of the dog, all sorts of associated herbs, using dog medicine in spell workings and creating amulets and talismans. Lots of charms and folklore is included too along with very interesting healing information. I also loved the section on shape shifting. Very interesting for anyone interested in utilising the power of dog energy. http://kitchenwitchuk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/shaman-pathways-aubrys-dog.html ~ Rachel Patterson, kitchenwitchuk.blogspot.co.uk

Dogs are man’s best friend, or so the saying goes. As well as being loyal to their human owners, they are powerful companions for witches and shamans. Shaman Pathways - Aubry's Dog: Power Animals in Traditional Witchcraft,by Mélusine Draco, looks at the history, mythology and magical traditions associated with these important animals. The book’s title comes from a legendary dog who, after the murder of his owner Aubry of Montdidier in 1371, not only detected the killer but also defeated him in a judicial trial by combat, forcing the man to confess to the crime. Aubry’s Dog offers a large collection of magical lore to help any witch with a dog as a companion or spirit guide to make the most of this association. The book offers protection spells, healing spells, divination techniques and cures that use ingredients such as hairs of a dog or canine correspondences, as well as making the most of the creatures as shamanic power animals. Read more on http://www.badwitch.co.uk/ ~ Lucya, http://www.badwitch.co.uk/

In ‘Aubrey’s Dog’ the author uses a quote from Stephen Budiansky’s ‘’The Truth About Dogs’ ... “When I look into my dog’s eyes I see worlds and aeons that I can touch nowhere else in my modern world ...” and adds that if we were to ever search for justification in using ‘dog power’ in magic, then surely we need look no further than this sentiment. This slim volume from the Moon Books’ Shaman Pathways series explores using the dog as a power animal in magic and pathworking; talking of the ‘song of the pack’ and ‘hound music’ – using the legend of Dragon, the dog who avenged his master’s murder in judicial combat, for the title of the book – the author encourages us to enter the realm of the canine. As usual there’s lots of history here but Melusine Draco is more interested in telling us how to connect with man’s best friend (and sometimes enemy) for magical purposes, including several workings that are definitely not for the faint-hearted such as summoning the hounds of hell, the conjuration of the dog-demon Glasya-Labolas and Shugal of the’ blood’ hound’s path or the ‘gage’. It’s clear that the author loves her dogs and I’ll guarantee after reading this book, you’ll never look on the family pet in the same light again! Highly recommended. Carys Llewellyn : Freelance writer and book reviewer. ~ Carys Llewellyn, amazon.co.uk

Probably like many people reading this, I wondered what this latest book from this expert and prolific author on the Traditional Old British Witchcraft pathways was all about and it was a very pleasant surprise when it arrived along with its sister release "Black Horse, White Horse" to discover a short but highly inclusive account of one of the most popular power or totem animals chosen by British witches .... our own familiar family pet dog and its wild cousins and ancestors. Ms Draco takes us on a journey from its earliest forays into the humans world through the four early forerunners groups and onto the many hundreds of variations we know and love today. Through all the mythological connections with the ancient Gods and the recorded ancient historical facts we travel , learning spells and incantations at every turn , discovering craft and planetary connections along the way until finally we reach the lesson at the end of the beginning of our true journey. Each time you look into those beautiful deep dark eyes of your wolf...whether it be the authors favourite greyhounds or the golden retriever, the ,lab , the collie or a hundred others from the mighty mongrel to the smallest terrier on your lap...don’t you often wonder what goes on in that mind...what would it be like to walk a mile on the four paws...would the sense of smell blow the human mind...would a thousand new sounds we'd never heard before scream in our ears until we went insane...how would the sudden adrenaline rush feel at the tiniest flicker of movement in a far off hedge.... So here is the goal of this particular journey.....let the Teacher lead on a wild shamanistic Hedge ride chase as we follow one of her greyhounds as it takes off across a field in pursuit of a hare. Let us find ourselves shape shifting into a long legged lean hunting dog and run with the hound sharing its excitement as it runs down its quarry...until just at the very last split second the hare cleverly evades us through a hole in the hedge....what a sensational shamanistic shape shifting ride and one so delightfully easy that even a complete novice like me can breeze into it.... Agwren ~ Agwren, Amazon review