One of the things I appreciated right away about this book is in the Foreward where Bosch acknowledges the bones of Indigenous children found in western Canada noting that, “Bones speak, even when people can no longer do so.” This gave me a feel for what the rest of the book contains: a respectful look at the stories that all bones have to tell. I also appreciated the clarity provided in the Preface regarding Bosch’s personal practise: they do not use human remains, and “prefer to work with spirits as my allies, not turn them into my servants because I have their bones.”
The book itself is organized into two parts; Part One covers folklore, ancestors, gods, and living traditions; Part Two covers more practical aspects of following the path of the bones, casting and magic, as well as songs and stories.
There is an excellent mix of historical bones (Atapuerca, Grotte de Cussac), mummies (Chile), and folklore from across the world (Scotland, China) and reading through the book is a little like opening drawer after drawer and finding fascinating facts. I was particularly pleased to see that my two favourites, Baba Yaga and the Cailleach, were included, along with the links between them, along with folklore and scholarly information about them.
Bosch shares the beginning of their path with a personal story from their own life which I found very beautiful to read, along with dreams and visions that offers a look at the scope of their practise along with some practical advice for those looking to begin on their own path.
If you are looking for a respectful and interesting book on the path of the bones, this one is a great read.
~review by Mara McTavish
Author: Ness Bosch
Publisher: Moon Books, 2024
Pp. 180, Price: $14.95 (USD)
