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ELIXIR: A Journey into Ancestral Alchemology
Gisella Rose’s ELIXIR: A Journey into Ancestral Alchemology is a lush blend of memoir, mysticism, and method. It’s a spiritual guide that threads together genealogy, astrology, elemental wisdom, and somatic awareness into what she calls “Ancestral Alchemology.” The book opens with her near-death experience at age three and moves through a lifetime of weaving ancestry, astrology, and self-healing into a single sacred practice. Rose explains how the elements, fire, water, air, and earth, shape not just nature but the stories of our bloodlines. Through the “MoonTree Chart,” she shows readers how to trace cosmic patterns through family history, turning family trees into living constellations. The work is both personal and strangely universal, a map for anyone wanting to understand where they come from and how to heal old generational wounds.
The writing is rich and sensory, sometimes so poetic it hums. Rose’s language is vivid and flowing, full of emotion and imagery, though at times it wanders into repetition. Still, there’s a raw sincerity that holds it all together. I loved how she brought her grief and her wonder into the same space, never polishing away the human messiness behind the mysticism. She invites the reader to think of ancestry not as data but as story, as breath, as pulse. The mix of spiritual and practical astrological charts, along with reflections on trauma and epigenetics, makes the work feel grounded even when it reaches into the mystical.
At times, the writing drifts into abstraction, and I found myself wishing for a few more grounded examples or simpler turns of phrase. Still, the poetic rhythm has a beauty that draws you in. Those slower passages feel intentional. It’s a book meant to unfold gently, best read slowly. I often paused to reflect, thinking of my own family and the quiet stories resting in my roots. The book left me with a soft ache and a lingering curiosity that felt both tender and alive.
ELIXIR is best suited for readers drawn to the mystical and introspective, people who love astrology, ritual, or personal transformation through ancestral work. It’s a companion for seekers. I’d recommend it to anyone who feels their roots tugging at them, who wants to bridge the spiritual with the tangible, who believes that healing can travel through time.
Pages: 443 | ASIN : B0FD96NKC8
Falling in Love with the Steampunk Sub-Genre
Wolfgang Edwards Author Interview
The University of Corporeal and Ethereal Studies is a genre-crossing novel with elements of a science fiction, paranormal, and fantasy as well. Did you start writing with this in mind, or did this happen organically as you were writing?
My idea for The University of Corporeal and Ethereal Studies began when I was falling in love with the Steampunk sub-genre and I knew I wanted to write a series of short stories set in a fantastic, fictional university with the themes of sci-fi and fantasy that are often seen in Steampunk. As I was developing the stories I quickly realized that I wanted to incorporate paranormal and horror elements in order to give the book a darker edge. I was also in the midst of reading a lot of H.P. Lovecraft, which has certainly had an influence on my writing.
The story is divided into a number of different perspectives from each character. What was the inspiration for your characters and what themes did you try to use?
It all started with my friends from college. I have been very to lucky to meet a lot of interesting and diverse people with a wide variety of backgrounds and studies, which inspired me to write about a cast of characters who are all very different, but still wind up becoming the best of friends. The deeper themes of these characters wrestling with inner demons and overcoming fears and flaws actually stemmed from my own darker thoughts and fears, and over the years of writing and editing, the characters also took on lives of their own, evolving into the people you see in the final draft.
The University is an intriguing place that rivals Hogwarts and begs to be explored. How did you set about creating this imaginative world?
As a child I was definitely inspired by J.K. Rowling, so there is an element of Hogwarts about the University, but primarily this world began when I was actually in college and shortly afterward. I was – and continue to be – amazed by the latest breakthroughs in science and the fantastic expressions of artists of all mediums. As I began brainstorming ideas for a Steampunk University I could not help but imagine impossible, dark twists on real studies of arts and sciences. The world that the University is situated in is even more exotic, as it is inspired by the rich diversity of our own real world, as well as history and of course, sci-fi and fantasy elements from a life as a bookworm.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
The sequel to The University of Corporeal and Ethereal Studies is still in the first draft stage. I have it all outlined and I am plugging away at writing it, one day at a time. The characters from The University will be traveling abroad – but I am not done with the University itself. I have an anthology book in mind with another variety of short stories set at the University, exploring more of the dark and creative studies there. The first sequel is undoubtedly at least a year or two away, but I am working on it as fast as I can. I am very excited to share my writing with my friends, family and anyone who enjoys sci-fi, fantasy and paranormal fiction.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Facebook | Twitter
![The University of Corporeal and Ethereal Studies (Students of Madness Book 1) by [Edwards, Wolfgang]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51TRGEtDm%2BL.jpg)
At the University of Corporeal & Ethereal Studies meddling with unknown powers can be dangerous work. Courses in arts and sciences experiment with supernatural forces to solve the mysteries of the universe, but when school projects go awry, the students may discover more than they would like to about the madness of the cosmic ‘Beyond’.
Eight interwoven stories follow students whose school work, social lives and inner demons crash together, leading to fantastic and horrible experiences, supernatural powers, and a fuller understanding of the dark depths of their world.
Classes include subjects such as time travel, alchemy, oneironautics, psychedelic transformation, rogue automatons, cosmic ghosts, reality-warping crystals, and more.
LITERARY TITAN 