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[booksofshadow]

HausMagick

If you’re magickly inclined and also obsess over Apartment Therapy, DesignSponge, or Domino, there is truly no better book for you than HausMagick by Erica Feldmann. Feldmann is the owner of HausWitch in Salem, a home decor boutique that caters to the aesthetic and spiritual tastes of the new magical community, and that sensibility translates perfectly to this charming book of how to transform your home into a sanctuary. 

HausMagick doesn’t have too many straightforward instructional decorating tips as I was expecting (I figured, for instance, there would be a chapter on applying color magic to decorating your home), and isn’t particularly heavy on specific spells, rituals or activities to try (some include how to dispell different kinds of spirits, a recipe for an energy clearing spray, and a cool group tarot activity for housemates) but is more oriented toward the philosophical and spiritual relationship one has with one’s home. 

Feldmann divides the book into six different chapters: Manifesting (finding a home that best suits you), Clearing (the space of energetic or physical clutter), Protection (against bad vibes and spiritual houseguests), Comfort (created by filling the space with positive elements), Harmony (between you and your roommates, romantic partner, or pets), and Balance (of connecting all of these concepts into one thread throughout the space). 

Each chapter begins with a narrative of how magical concepts relate to the theme, often pulling in historical context (Feldmann acknowledges how to approach witchcraft with respectful intersectionality flawlessly), before discussing how to accomplish these goals. The Clearing chapter neatly shows the breadth of the approaches Feldmann takes to making a space magical. An overview of the Marie Kondo technique connects with a “Banishing Stuff Witness Spell,” which is essentially infusing the keep/donate/trash/does-it-bring-you-joy technique with some magical ritual elements. An array of techniques for clearing bad energy ranges from different types of smoke to using a cleairng spray to using a bell. The ability of plants and fresh air to clean a space is intertwined with a recipe for an all-natural cleaning agent. As with each chapter, Feldmann also outlines three crystals that relate to the theme and how to use them. 

Most of Feldmann’s suggestions amount to what I think of as energy work. There’s a lot of talk about tuning into the energy of a room or an object, of how to claim a space or ground yourself. There’s discussion of good and bad energy and how to change it or improve its flow. There’s a fun section on how to improve your psychic communication with your pet. The end game here is much more to create a (dare I say it?) sacred relationship with your space and creating a home that allows you to relax, be creative, manifest positivity, and relate better to those you share it with, rather than decorating it to Instagram-ready perfection.

However, one of the big joys of this book is that it’s full of drool-worthy interior design shots and photography of artfully arranged magical elements and tools. I’m not sure how often I’ll be turning to this book for practical use (which reflects much more on me already being a practitioner of most of these ideas rather than it being useful) but I already can’t stop picking it up to turn to some of my favorite photos for inspiration. 

So, if you’ve been feeling disconnected from your home, are moving soon (or know someone who is), or are feeling generally unrooted, HausMagick is an excellent resource for tuning back in to your surroundings. 

Level: Beginner - anyone can dive right in to the rituals Feldmann outlines

Accessibility: Low - the explanation of the philosophies grounding this book are crystal-clear and while there are some rituals that rely on specific crystals or herbs, the majority of instructions solely revolve around mental work.

Usefulness: Moderate - one downside of this book is that it’s really a journey you can only take once per space, and if you’re already feeling cozy in your home then there isn’t that much you can pull from it, practically-speaking. But I think it would very effectively help those with its specific problem to solve.

Entertainment: High - those pictures! Plus, Feldmann and the friends she brings in are people you just want to hang out with, no matter how applicable what they’re saying may be to you. 

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Elemental Energy

I can’t make up my mind about crystals. While I’m willing to put blind faith into certain practices, there’s something about crystals that makes me unable to shake at least a little bit of skepticism until I can exactly understand just how they’re supposed to work. Maybe because they’re adjacent enough to science that I can’t help but look for proof more than, say, caring about how tarot cards are supposed to work? I was just dipping my toes into crystals, unable to resist their draw any longer, when I listened to an episode of one of my favorite witchy podcasts, The Serpent Cast, where the guest - Rowan Alexandra - discussed piezoelectricity. This explanation of the electric charge that occurs in solids that have undergone mechanical stress was the closest thing I’d heard to evidence that there may be something to the whole crystal thing after all. It gave me a bit more solid of a ground to stand on while exploring crystals further, even though I don’t really know how piezoelectricity necessarily translates to all of the powers we ascribe to different stones. 

Here’s what I do know, though. I know that crystals are pretty and feel luxurious. I know that I’ve gotten most of my crystals in the creaky old farmhouse that serves as the shop on the Tweefontein Herb Farm I like to visit on my trips to my hometown, and I like having these connections to a place that so embodies the spirit of where I grew up. I know that crystals remind me of trips to the Museum of Natural History as a kid, where I loved to hang out in the dark Gems and Minerals rooms and gaze at the ancient stones with my dad while we were playing hooky. Even if I fluctuate on believing that rose quartz is going to help me find true love or whatever, these crystals still steadfastly hold an energy that comforts me in the same way the owl statue I inherited from my grandpa does. 

That being said, as a fairweather crystal devotee, I’ve never been entirely sure how to use them and haven’t bothered to put too much effort into finding out. I like to use them to enhance my tarot readings sometimes, or to hold one as I’m setting an intention or meditating. But mostly, I just look at them. So I was excited to dive into the gorgeous Elemental Energy: Crystal and Gemstone Rituals for a Beautiful Life  by Kristin Petrovich in order to learn more about them and delight in the drool-worthy photography. 

When I read that Petrovich created a “crystal-infused organic skin care” line (sjal Skincare), I figured the book was mostly going to be a lark in a flipping-through-the-Goop-gift-guide kind of way. But I was surprised to see that the first couple chapters go deep into a scientific understanding of crystals - both in how they’re created and how they’re supposed to work - as well as an historical overview of how people have been incorporating them into their lives and healthcare throughout time and around the world. It established some trust for me and I was ready to take what Petrovich had to say much more seriously. 

Following that is a general intro to how to choose, find, and work with crystals with an overview of what kinds of crystals serve which purpose. Then there are the chapters explaining how to use them by: creating elixers, using them as a tool for massage, incorporating them into bathing, working with chakras, making face and body treatments, and weaving them into your lifestyle. I was surprised by how accessible Petrovich’s suggestions, rituals, and recipes were and I learned a ton. The chapters on massage and chakras are especially useful because you don’t even really need crystals at all to try her exercises involving acupressure and chakra clearing. (Plus it gives you a nice overview of the whole philosophy behind both of those things if you, like me, only had a vague understanding of them beforehand.)

I assumed the chapter on creating crystal face and body treatments was going to be laughably elitist; I was imagining having to source $700 a gram diamond shavings or something in order to make a serum. But most of the recipes use some combination of a crystal elixer (essentially soaking a crystal in water), aloe vera gel, essential oils, and sea salt, with the most out-there ingredients being silver and gold colloidals and pearl powder, which aren’t exactly cheap and available at a bodega but on the spectrums of “witchcraft” and “skincare” aren’t that bad either. 

All in all, Elemental Energy is an absolutely stunning book with a lot more depth to it than meets the eye. It’s a delicious indulgence while also being a thorough primer on how to work with crystals.

Level: Any - It’s both a great introduction for beginners while also having ideas that even the most advanced crystal practitioners likely haven’t tried before

Accessibility: Low - Petrovich breaks down even complicated concepts in an inviting way

Usefulness: Moderate to high - Maybe I won’t be whipping up a pearl powder and gold colloidal illuminating face mask every day, but I can definitely see the massage chapter, for instance, quickly becoming worn down

Entertainment: High - I think looking at the photos has just as much of a calming effect as the kind Petrovich claims crystals have

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Modern Tarot

I have now done three tarot readings with Michelle Tea’s Modern Tarot  and I already can’t imagine doing a reading without it. It’s been a while since I’ve felt I’ve outgrown the little guide that came with my deck. It’s so worn it’s falling apart and I often find the little sentence fragments that serve as explanation unsatisfying. But since I, as mentioned in the Jung and Tarot entry, use an alternative deck it’s been difficult to find a website or book that I felt wasn’t so caught up in the Rider Waite deck to be of any use to me. 

Modern Tarot does also use Rider Waite as a base, but Tea successfully draws out the essence of each card so that any mention of the symbolism in the Rider Waite deck serves as an extra layer of interpretation rather than a definitive explanation. Take my New Year’s reading, for example. The spread was fitting for the transition from the year I just had to the new one. It was full of new beginnings and completions of cycles, culmination of business ventures and success with creative endeavors, but still sprinkled with a dash of unease, distrust, and wariness. But, the final card was the eight of swords, which in my Goddess Tarot Deck is depicted by a woman lying face down surrounded by swords sticking into the ground outlining her body. It was an ominous image, and I believe the phrase the deck’s guide used was “incapacitating depression.” I was confused and surprised. It wasn’t exactly the future I would expect for a spread like that, or for my life for that matter. But I turned to Modern Tarot and learned that in the Rider Waite deck this card shows a woman standing blindfolded while surrounded by swords, and while Tea also talks about a feeling of depression or feeling trapped she also says, to paraphrase, “Bitch, it’s of your own making! You can take off that blindfold! You can easily walk through those swords!!” So I took the card as a warning. If I get so caught up in that distrust and unease and wariness that I can barely enjoy all of the positivity those other cards symbolized, then I’m going to wind up as depressed as I would have been if I were still struggling. 

My knowledge and skill with the cards has grown so much even in just these few readings. I feel like I understand the cards I’ve worked with the book for so much better after one reading than I did after using this deck for almost ten years. Her explanations are a  joy to read. She has a great contemporary voice and will incorporate just enough of her (very interesting, if you’ve read any of Tea’s other writing) life into the guides that they read almost like a micro personal essay. She has a great ability to modernize the explanation for the cards, especially when navigating the very strict and traditional gender roles associated with tarot, while still honoring the original intention of the card. 

What I love most, though, is that Tea will give a nod to the different ways a card might fit into a reading. After going through the overall meaning of a card, she will angle that interpretation to fit if it lands in a place that’s meant to be a person, or yourself, or a situation. It can be so difficult to do this on your own, and I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen that done in a guide. Why isn’t this more common? Flipping to a random card, let’s look at the Page of Wands. It’s a card full of inspiration and the energy takes to bring that creative impulse into something tangible, yet it’s tinged with a slight lack of confidence or possibility. Tea explains that, as a person, this card may represent someone around you with contagious creative energy, but warns not to depend on them to follow through with all of their great ideas. It may be someone in your office ripe for mentoring, or a friend that always has new hijinks up their sleeve, or a romantic interest that’s pulled in so many directions (or is polyamorous) and likely won’t settle on focusing on just you. If you’re the Page of Wands, it’s an encouragement to experiment and play the field. If it’s more of a situation, it’s one that isn’t fully formed but has a lot of potential, something to take a chance on but to keep your expectations loose for. 

Another fun thing about Modern Tarot is it’s also a surprise spell book. At the end of every card is a segment most often entitled “Be the [Card]” but sometimes may be “Bring the [Card] Into Your Life” or “Working With [Card]” or “Getting Through [Card],” you get the idea. What follows is two or three extra bullet points describing either a ritual or a spell or some other guided action to work with the idea and energy of the card in the rest of your life. “Be The Chariot,” for example, suggests working with pyrite to help bring balance and control into your life to prepare for (metaphorical) war, offers up some candle magic for gaining control, and shares a domination spell to help beat your competitor. 

Let’s just say, I wouldn’t be surprised if I ended up sitting down and reading this book cover to cover one day. And how many tarot guides can you really say that about?

Level: Intermediate - I think a beginner would still be able to use this book perfectly well, but the level of study and the additional spells that are included read more for an intermediate to advanced witch.

Accessibility: Moderate - Again, I don’t think this is exactly impenetrable for a newbie, but I think to really enjoy it and make use of it it’s best to approach it with a solid understanding of tarot and general witchery at large beforehand.

Usefulness: High - Like I said, this book will likely be by my side for every tarot reading from now on

Entertainment: High 

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The Green Witch

I plan on living in New York City until the day that I die, and anxiously await my time as an eccentric old broad, shuffling down Bleecker in my giant fur coat and extravagant hat, stacks of bangles jangling with every step that I take. 

Yet, there is always going to be a strong part of me that's deeply connected to nature. I grew up in the Hudson Valley, and it was in the woods behind my house and at the shore of the river that flowed through my hometown and on the trails of the mountains that watched over us that I first found my idea of magic. 

As a twelve-year-old I walked barefoot into the woods armed with my Teen Witch spellbook and gathered my materials and knelt in the dirt of my hidden, secret forts and attempted to create some sort of power within myself and over my life, desperately seeking ways to heal the sick around me. As I got a little older and began realizing that it hadn't just been the typical early aughts preteen witch phase for me, I understood that whatever idea I had of a concept of god and religion was rooted in nature, and that aligned with paganism far more than any other religion I had studied. I treated the big questions of life with a two year old's curiosity; with each scientific response to an inquiry I would ask "why?" and keep drilling down until the very limits of our knowledge, to the atoms or the boundaries of space, and at some point when you ask "why?" we no longer know the answer, and it is in those mysterious spaces that I leave room for religion. It is where I leave room for magic. 

As much as I am a City Person, I need to return home or to nature elsewhere, so that I can immediately feel that jolt of magic. I feel it when I run into the ocean each summer or lie in the park in the sun on the first warm day each spring. I need to "recharge" in this way. But because of my affinity for the city, I never felt fully comfortable identifying as a nature witch in any sense. Hell, I barely buy organic and essential oils mostly just make me feel nauseous. But as I've been getting older, I've been finding myself drawn more and more to nature-based solutions to problems like I was perhaps destined to do with my hippie roots. I've swapped leave-in conditioner for coconut oil, turned to ginger and echinacea for colds, and leaned fully in to combatting stomach issues with kombucha. 

So I've been eyeing books like The Green Witch: Your Complete Guide to the Natural Magic of Herbs, Flowers, Essential Oils, and More by Arin Murphy-Hiscock lately, even while being unsure that they were for me. Thankfully, this book does away with the notion that green witches can only live off the grid at the edge of town in a cabin in the woods right away, and begins with a comprehensive overview of what being a green witch even really means. I really love Murphy-Hiscock's discussion of magic in relation to the philosophy of the green witch: "Most green witches find the use of the word 'magic' to be irrelevant. Magic implies something our of the ordinary. But to a green witch the mundane is magical. When she senses, responds to, and gently nudges the flows of natural energy around her, nothing could be more natural." She then quotes Marian Green, author of Wild Witchcraft; "Magic is the art of learning to recognize these elements of change: the natural patterns of flow and ebb, the times of progress, of standing still and retreating." Murphy-Hiscock continues, "Magic is learning to harmonize yourself with the forces of nature and understanding how they flow through your life...In short, by opening yourself to the energy of nature, and by accepting that you are a part of that grand symphony of energy and power, you allow yourself to partake of that energy to rebalance your life...The green witch works from the inside out and moves with the natural flow of the energies instead of seeking to manipulate them."

This has always been my idea of what I'm doing when I consider myself to be performing "magic," and it was wonderful to see that theory expanded upon into a full philosophy that serves as the first few chapters of The Green Witch. This book works best as an introduction to a lifestyle. While there is plenty of practical information in here, my biggest takeaway was this overview of a belief system. If you've been nature-witch-curious, reading The Green Witch will definitely settle whether or not this type of witchcraft is for you. 

If it does end up being your thing, you'll find rituals for the changing seasons and changing moons, helpful overviews of the magical and healing properties of plants, flowers, herbs, and crystals, guides for creating altars and spell bags, and recipes for bath potions, healing oils, teas, and more. I was excited to try and make nearly everything in this book. But. This is one of those spellbooks where you're going to have to go out and hunt for an ingredient to make basically anything. You'd really have to have a well-stocked magickal cabinet full of expensive and difficult to find ingredients to even get started. A protection charm, for example, requires a snowflake obsidian (I have regular obsidian! I didn't even know there was snowflake obsidian!), caraway seeds, and mugwort. Or a tonic tea includes rosemary, sage (with you so far), catnip (I guess I can steal some from my cat), and then yarrow and horehound. I'm not sure I've heard of yarrow or horehound before, let alone know where to go out and find them. So, that's a bit frustrating, but for this focus of witchcraft it isn't much of a surprise that you're going to need a wide variety of herbs, plants, and stones in order to carry its instructions out. 

I think The Green Witch is worth it even if you don't ever complete one of the recipes, though. It gives you a foundation of knowledge that you could start experimenting yourself with the concepts you learn, regardless of whether or not your pantry is fully stocked. It has more of a textbook feel (there aren't any illustrations or photographs in here, if that's important to you) and I could see using it as a resource for quickly remembering which herb is best for what. And I think getting a coven together to make a day out of doing one of the more complex activities would be an excellent time. 

Level: Beginner

Accessibility: Low

Usefulness: High

Entertainment: Moderate

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Lunar Abundance

Finding a book about working with the moon that suits my practice is at the very top of my witchy books wish list. I feel extremely connected with the moon and I love the idea of incorporating some kind of ritual or spellwork or something with keeping track of its cycles. I want not just what the different phases of the moon mean but what each moon cycle throughout the year means, how the astrological sign the moon is in affects things, how I can harness the power of the moon into my own work, what part of my life or my practice I should focus in on when.  

Lunar Abundance: Cultivating Joy, Peace, and Purpose Using the Phases of the Moon by Ezzie Spencer is very much not that, but in its defense it clearly isn't trying to be. 

This book is very pretty and very charming, but it's definitely not a witchy book. The focus is all about setting intentions, and using the moon as a tool - even really just as a metaphor - for trying to bring those intentions into fruition. Splitting the cycle into eight phases, it works its way from picking an intention with the new moon to receiving the manifestation of that intention with gratitude. Each chapter has a meditation on the moon phase and intention-setting and most have questions to fill out as a reflective exercise. You're supposed to work your way through the book over the course of one cycle, rather than being the kind of book you can pick up and flip to the chapter relating to that night's moon phase and have it guide you in the moment. 

The closest thing to witchcraft in here is Spencer's suggestion for a full moon ceremony that involves writing a list of things you need to release and people you want to forgive and then burning them. There's a lot of talk about Yin and Yang, about getting in touch with your body and your emotions and your desires. There's a lot of inspirational messaging written in cursive type of soothing photos with muted palettes. It's kind of a self-help book for the type of woman who would go glamping. 

And, you know what, it's perfect for them. It's just not what I'm looking for in a moon book and that's fine. I do, however, have to give a shoutout to the free printable lunar chart you can download from the website here. I love the design and I will absolutely be putting one in my 2019 planner, and my witch notebook, and probably on my wall. Once I find my white whale of moon books, it'll be such a helpful way to keep track of the year. 

Level: Beginner

Accessibility: Low

Usefulness: Low for me, but high for the right audience

Entertainment: Moderate - Spencer makes for a charming guide and the whole thing reads like scrolling through an expertly curated Instagram account

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Star Power

I started taking astrology a little more seriously when I realized that I was having the exact same argument with the third man I had become involved with that was born in the same two-week period. I am a little over two years into diving into astrology beyond my monthly horoscopes for my sun sign, and I'm at this point where I'm getting fairly comfortable with the vocabulary but am constantly having to stop and think "Wait, what does that mean again?" That's why I was so excited that a guide like Star Power: A Simple Guide to Astrology for the Modern Mystic by Vanessa Montgomery was out. It breaks down each aspect of astrology (planets, nodes, signs, elements, modes, houses, aspects, and transits) into an easy-to-understand overview that will empower you to understand natal charts and day-to-day astrology.

This book feels like a collection of the answers to dozens of frantically Googled questions conveniently all in one place. Sure by now anyone knows that if something is up with Mercury that means issues of communication are afoot, but I love having a quick reference for what all the other planets mean when I hear much more advanced astrologers all atwitter about something funky happening with Jupiter. What each house in your natal chart indicates is another thing I've been finding difficult to track down straightforward answers to, and the Houses section breaks it down perfectly. I also for the very first time feel like I understand Aspects, and actually reacted out loud ("Oooohhhhhhhh!!") as I flipped through the illustrations explaining the geometry of it all, and now I'm itching to whip out a protractor and really go to town on my chart. 

Instead of just trying to memorize the meaning behind a ton of different factors, Star Power gives you the tools like this to understand the foundation on which astrology as a whole is based. Related to the geometry of Aspects, there's a great section that explains compatibility between signs, going into why signs may or may not be compatible along with simply which signs are compatible with which. You're also taught how to track transits by comparing charts, or what it means to have a planetary return. Even just the simple formula Montgomery goes over a few times - "The planet indicates what will be felt, the sign is how it will be felt, and the house is the area of life where you will feel it" - made a lot of amorphous information I had floating around in my brain suddenly snap into focus. 

While Star Power is excellent at these building blocks, it is absolutely not something that will connect those dots for you. You'll understand what Saturn indicates in your chart, and you'll understand what a Pisces is like, but there is not a handy list following each planet or house that lays out exactly what it means to have your Saturn in Pisces (or any other sign). You'll need to go to the piece on Saturn, learn about the planet, then go to the Pisces pages and learn about Pisces and draw your own conclusions. (Although while I really enjoy her descriptions of the signs, they're all more along the lines of primers and don't go too in depth, so you may want to build up your knowledge of the signs you're not as familiar with elsewhere.) Now, for someone at my level or higher, I get a kick out of that. But if you're looking for a quick comprehensive resource, you'll likely be frustrated by this book. Think of it as much more of a textbook for how to be your own astrologer rather than a straightforward astrology book. 

Another quick note: Star Power is 100% geared towards women. This doesn't just result in she/her pronouns, but in passages like the following from the chapter on Mars: "Females in most modern cultures are generally brought up to repress their active, assertive, aggressive, and self-interested side: we're encouraged to give it away to others. We're socialized to repress this powerful function while setting a 'desirable' standard for attractiveness as pleasing, passive and dependent. Women have extra work to do when it comes to moving beyond limiting and narrow cultural codes of 'acceptable' and 'attractive' behavior in order to unleash our full potential in this world. Just being aware of this helps us begin to notice when you're holding yourself back, or when others are doing it to you." I personally appreciated this, but since it's not explicitly stated anywhere on the cover of the book I figured it was worth mentioning. 

Overall, I'm thrilled with this book. As much as I want to keep it pristine, I can totally see this quickly becoming one of those much-loved crinkly-paged books I turn to again and again as I continue developing my astrology skills. 

Level:  Intermediate

Accessibility: Moderate

Usefulness: High

Entertainment: Moderate

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Light Magic for Dark Times

I didn't think Light Magic for Dark Times (by Lisa Marie Basile) was going to be a book for me. I am not a "love and light" type of person. I try to stay optimistic and I'm a bit of a romantic, but my nickname in my group chat calls on Chekhov for a reason and that affinity for darkness tends to translate to my witchcraft. I'm not out here performing demonic rituals or anything, but I did, for example, participate in the initial hex against Trump (and am still kind of salty that Lana Del Ray gets all the credit for it when, like, she didn't even come up with the idea, you know?) and I didn't think I'd be able to relate to a book that I assumed would be focused on hyper kumbaya positivity. 

But right from the beginning of the gorgeous forward by Kristen J. Sollée (of Witches, Sluts, Feminists) I realized I had the wrong impression of Light Magic for Dark Times. 

It is far more about examining one's relationship with darkness, both in the world and within oneself, and developing the tools necessary to work with it or move past it. The spells and rituals are divided into chapters relating to love, grief and trauma, negativity, regeneration and recharge, identity and body, and shadow work, along with some general informational chapters about practicing as a witch (including a fun one about "last minute light: magic for bathroom stalls, crying corners, and emergencies). These spells address very contemporary concerns - things like battling imposter syndrome and recharging after a protest pop up - and Basile stresses that she is a secular witch, so they're entirely devoid of any kind of spirituality, making it feel even more of-the-moment. Something I really appreciated about this book is that it keeps its required tools and ingredients realistic, narrowing it down to just a handful of simple, common supplies that are used over and over throughout the book. So often I'll flip through a spellbook and can barely find any spells that don't require some rare and/or expensive and/or difficult-to-obtain ingredient, so it's a total relief that the only spells in here that I can't do are the ones that involve taking a bath because my Brooklyn tub is too small. 

That being said, another disclaimer: I don't know how much I buy the line of thinking that something like, say, putting on red lipstick is magic because it gives you power from within and affects how people may perceive you. And, that type of "spell" is a lot of what you'll find within Light Magic. A ton of them are essentially journaling (and that's outside of the chapter specifically dedicated to "writing magic"), and many of them boil down to simple meditation. I felt a little cheated by one that I was especially curious about for no particular reason, "An Earthing Activity to Reduce Stress From Political Chaos," which ended up being "go outside and hang out in nature." * But at least that one had a note following it about a scientific study that found being in nature has a physical calming effect on the same part of your brain that processes depression and anxiety, and I always appreciate a little hard science to at least attempt to back up my woowoo stuff. 

However, I can confidently say that every. single. one. of these spells and rituals would be helpful for exactly what they're aiming to achieve, whether or not I necessarily consider them to be witchcraft. If anything, consider Light Magic the cheapest therapy you can find, especially for conquering issues of self-love. One of the blurbs calls this book "compassionate," and I think that's exactly right. Even just the act of reading the book itself was soothing, from the design to Basile's introductions to the chapters and spells, to the spells themselves. I can absolutely see myself turning to this book for ideas and inspiration to try and live a life more filled with those other buzzwords - "self-care" and "wellness"- if not as often for when I'm feeling witchy. 

Which is not to say that there aren't what I consider to be full-fledged legitimate spells in here too. I think Basile works particularly well with fire and I love her use of crystals, especially in a beautiful serenity spell that's an interesting twist on the "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change" Christian prayer. There's a whole range of tools for people to use here to combat the darkness and, man, has there ever been a more timely book? *City witches: Don't get scared off by this example. As a city witch myself, I'll often feel ostracized by pagan literature's preference for nature when it comes to how to be a Real Witch. But Light Magic deftly adapts even nature-heavy spells to an urban counterpart.

Level: Beginner

Accessibility: Low - I want to reiterate its strength of simplicity in its supplies; no tracking down an expensive essential oil or piece of nature you can only find if you live in the desert here!

Usefulness: High - as long as you're looking for a quiet sort of magic and not necessarily heavy-duty Spells, most people would be interested in most of these spells at some point and they're rituals you can turn to again and again

Entertainment: High - "entertaining" is not quite the right word for reading this book, but it's not often I'll sit and read a spellbook from cover to cover, and the act of reading the book itself is part of its cozy appeal

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Witches of America

Witches of America is a memoir meets piece of investigative journalism about modern Paganism in America. Alex Mar originally set out to make a documentary about contemporary witches and ended up on a five-year journey through the world of witchcraft, resulting in this brisk read. It's framed by Mar's admitted naiveté, beginning with an almost total ignorance of what it really means to be a practicing witch and a skepticism about the practice and belief system in general, then unfolding into a fascination and admiration of the craft. The "did you know witches are people??" tone might be grating for some, but for the most part I didn't mind it, and it appropriately decreases as Mar becomes more integrated into the community. As a solo witch, I still found the insight into what today's covens and communities are up to new and interesting, and I appreciated the portraits of people who center their lives on becoming a high priestess, for example, that were told with a tender rather than salacious account. 

Drawing Down the Moon seems to be the gold standard for this kind of book that surveys what real-life witches are up to these days, but I haven't read it because it looks to be outdated and a bit dry. (I do hope to read it for this project, though.) Witches of America, I think, is the maiden to Drawing Down the Moon's crone. Of course since it was published 30 years after Moon, it's much more up-to-date, but it's also a fresher, more entertaining story than academic text. There's a page-turning narrative here, and we get to know several "characters" over the course of a couple years. Plus, Mar's grappling with her own beliefs adds an additional compelling layer. 

Even with witchcraft's rising popularity, it still can be difficult for me to remember that there is indeed a population of people incorporating rituals and ceremonies and spell work into their everyday lives, Going beyond the surface-level trends, this book is a portrayal of a religion that I felt to be accurate and fair. It serves as a great overview for the beginner witch as well as a comforting reminder for the lonely witch who wants to reconnect with something larger than herself. 

Level: All - the advanced witch may not glean too many new insights, but I think would nonetheless enjoy the ride

Accessibility: Low - Mar never leaves you hanging, but does a great job of weaving in the basics when needed (I didn't, say, skip past the backstory on Aleister Crowley) 

Usefulness: Low - there are a couple things you could pull from here to apply to your own practice, but for the most part that's not the focus here

Entertainment: High 

[booksofshadow]

Jung and Tarot

The acquisition of Jung and Tarot: An Archetypal Journey by Sallie Nichols was what inspired me to start this project. Originally, I was going to The Strand to check out another book I thought I'd be interested in, The Spirit Almanac, which I wanted to check out in person because I couldn't tell from the summary and the available preview whether or not it was more of a witchy book or more of a book for the "live love laugh" kind of woman. I was hoping for some kind of guide through the seasons with rituals and holidays and ties to astrological cycles or something along those lines, but when the salesperson told me I could find one copy in the occult section and one copy in the self-help section, I knew right away I was going to be disappointed. We couldn't find the one in the occult section, so she led me to the self-help section and I flipped through it just to give it a shot. It actually seemed like a lovely book, but it just wasn't for me.

I had a little time to kill, so I wandered back over to the occult section to browse. Then I had one of those magical bookstore moments where, just as I was about to leave, I noticed another section of shelves I was about to skip over, and when I quickly scanned the spines I saw a couple copies of Jung and Tarot and gasped.

While I'm by no means a Jungian scholar, what I do know about his theories forms the backbone of a lot of my beliefs, especially the witchier ones. As a writer, I've been interested in his ideas on archetypes, and I've naturally brought those kinds of ideas into how I read tarot, for which I've always leaned heavily on forming a narrative and picking up symbols and patterns within a spread. I took a look and saw it was a collection of essays, going through each of the cards in the major arcana and dissecting them through a lens of Jung and archetypes. It seemed right up my alley, but the new copy was nearly $30, and I wasn't willing to spend that much on a whim. Just as I was about to leave, I noticed one of the spines was a little yellower than the rest, and I pulled it out. A used copy for $7. Sold.

As I've been taking tarot more seriously, I've been looking for a book that would help me dive more into the meanings of each card. I've been relying on the little booklet that came with my deck, and sometimes a few words isn't quite enough to help me make sense of any given card, especially in the context of a spread or a question. So I was excited to try a reading with Jung and Tarot as an additional tool, even if it's just for the major arcana cards.

One thing I knew was going to be a potential barrier is that I use The Goddess Tarot deck by Kris Waldherr, which has a goddess for each major arcana card rather than the typical symbols. As I went through my first reading, I realized just how heavily Nichols draws on the symbolism of the Rider Waite deck specifically in order to make her points. The essays are fun to read (her voice is surprisingly lighthearted and funny for a philosophy-meets-Tarot book) but the emphasis is much more heavily on the evolution of the archetype throughout history rather than what the drawing of the card may mean, especially if you're using a different deck.

I had three major arcana cards in my reading: The Fool, Strength, and The Devil. The Fool was first, and since I'm so disconnected from the standard meanings for these cards, it was helpful just to get a sense of what they may mean outside of the context of goddesses. Once I got a history of the role of the fool in courts, in Shakespeare, in fairy tales, I learned about the history of the Fool card itself. Its meaning is as tricky as the symbol that represents it, even its place in the deck is slippery - sometimes at the beginning of the major arcana and sometimes at the end. Thankfully for me, she shows how it's depicted in several different decks, but mostly to illustrate the mystery behind its intended meaning. There's a long aside about the symbolism behind zero, The Fool's number, and a circle - loosely connected to zero, I guess - all to wind up at a somewhat-conclusion that The Fool and its meaning are ambiguous. A shaky start.

The chapter on Strength is almost entirely on the symbolism of lions in mythology and art because in the Rider Waite deck it depicts a woman opening the mouth of a lion. (It also touched on the unusual appearance of a woman in the deck which, compared to using a goddess deck, is moot.) The essay on The Devil, as you might imagine, heavily featured religious symbolism about who exactly the devil was. But it's not all ancient references - this chapter discusses the role of the devil in the works of Herman Hesse and Paul Klee (and The Fool chapter mentioned Squeaky Fromme and Nixon).

For each of these essays, I felt like I came away with much more knowledge about archetypes and Jung than I did with tarot, especially since I'm using an atypical deck. It was difficult to connect Nichols' points about the archetype to how they may translate to tarot. At the end of reaching each one, I'd look back at the spread, back to the chapter, back to the card, and think "Okay but what does it mean." It was certainly interesting to get all this history and context, but I don't know how helpful of a tool it'll be in my future readings. However, since I've only used it for a few cards, I'll still keep it on hand when I'm having a leisurely reading and more major arcana cards come up.

Level: Intermediate to expert

Accessibility: Moderate to high - this is a pretty academic text for both the tarot and the philosophy aspects

Usefulness: Moderate - I think if you use a Rider Waite deck it would be a lot more helpful if you're looking to take your readings to the next level, intellectually. For other decks, there are bits and pieces to take from it, but the usefulness would probably be better for other pursuits.

Entertainment: Moderate - Is reading a book about philosophy and archetypes fun? Not necessarily. But if you're interested in philosophy, art, literature, and psychology the essays are definitely interesting to read.

[booksofshadow]

Witches, Sluts, Feminists

Usually, joy is fleeting. It sneaks up on you, consumes you, and then disappears long before you think it should. The joy I've felt over achieving my wildest dreams has, in the grand scheme of things, merely been a blip.

But on my birthday back in January, my roommate presented me with my presents. He handed me an RBG tote from The Strand and when I looked inside it, there was Witches, Sluts, Feminists by Kristen J. Sollée. I gasped and asked, "How did you know I've been wanting to read this???" He said, "I...didn't know. I just saw it at the store and thought of you."

And that joy? That joy has sustained me this entire year. 

As soon as I heard about Witches, Sluts, Feminists last year, I knew I had to read it when it came out. Lest you be offended on my behalf by my roommate being reminded of me by a book with "sluts" in the title, I had a strange sojourn as a sex health educator and have long been a passionate believer of sex positive feminism. I think that sex is power, and that the root of many kinds of oppression of women is a societal fear of our sexuality. And way back before I even knew about feminism, my preteen self was drawn to paganism and witchcraft because, unlike any other religion I'd been exposed to, it celebrated and encouraged feminine power, and it didn't take long to understand that was at the root of fear of witches. So anytime these two theories intersect, I'm going to be there. 

Now, as someone who has long been entrenched in studying witches, sluts, and feminists from an academic perspective, there wasn't a ton of groundbreaking stuff in this book, but it was still an absolute delight to read and I know it would be very eye-opening for someone who's just dipping their toes in. Part history, part social commentary, part interview collection, it explores the ways female sexuality has related to witchcraft and feminism throughout American history. It touches on sex magic, prostitution, fashion, porn, music, the witch on screen, queering the witch, and the witch's role in revolution, among others. The chapter that's stuck with me the most is about the conflation of midwives and witches, which is something that I'd never thought about before. The point Sollée drives home again and again is that basically any time women try to do something independently - including helping other women give birth - it tries to get squashed, often under accusations of witchcraft or sluttiness. 

The book is punctuated with fantastic illustrations that add to the contemporary voice of the writing. The whole vibe is very much like you're sitting down with the coolest witches from the internet and chatting about all your hot takes - and in some ways, you really are, since you'll recognize a few of the names in the interviews if you've spent any time in a witchy digital community. If I have any complaints it's that sometimes it feels a bit too casual in that it can read like a totally different book from chapter to chapter. It can be a little jarring to shift so quickly from a deeply-researched persuasive essay to a bloggy musing dotted with hashtags and slang. But did that stop me from having a great time while reading it? Definitely not. 

So if you have any interest in deepening your understanding of the relationship between witchery and womanhood in both an historical and contemporary context, Witches, Sluts, Feminists in a fun and illuminating read. 

Level: Beginner to intermediate

Accessibility: Moderate - while the writing is perfect accessible, I do think there's a fair amount of feminist theory and familiarity with witchcraft the book is assuming you're already coming to the table with in order to really get the most out of it

Usefulness: Low - I think that strengthening your foundation with theoretical context like this book provides is always helpful, but in terms of gaining practical knowledge or turning to this book as a resource over and over, that's pretty unlikely

Entertainment: High - it's a blast to read

[booksofshadow]

To Ride a Silver Broomstick

I figured it would be fitting to kick things off with the very first book about witchcraft that I owned: To Ride a Silver Broomstick: New Generation Witchcraft by Silver RavenWolf. From what I can gather, the Silver RavenWolf book that was the vibe at the time for most witches of my generation was fittingly Teen Witch, but my 12 year old budding Pagan self didn't have time for that kid stuff. I wanted a serious introduction to how I could transform into a real witch, and I was very satisfied with this book as a foundation. 

Silver RavenWolf seems to have evolved into a figure that we all kind of giggle about as our kooky corny aunt of yesteryear, and yeah that title and that cover are cheesy as hell in the most '90s way, but you know what? I dug this out of my childhood bedroom to bring it back with me to my grownup apartment when I decided to dive back into my witchiness with serious intent, and I still stand by it as a serviceable resource. The benefit here is breadth; Silver Broomstick covers pretty much every topic you're curious about when it comes to witchy things from history and detailing spiritual beliefs to how to work with the tools of the trade to discussing ethics and how to adapt to the lifestyle of a full-time witch. 

Depth, however, is another story. What's really interesting about this book to me (but could be frustrating for others, especially beginners) is that it gives you the tools and the buildings blocks to become a witch rather than necessarily telling you how. If you're looking for some spells to work with crystals, for example, you won't find that here. But, you'll learn about how crystals work, you'll learn about color magic, you'll learn how to write a spell and how to keep records of your spellcasting, you'll learn about incorporating other elements into working with crystals, and you'll find charts that you can consult that will show you the lunar phase, day of the week, astrological sign, and herb that will best go with which crystal to result in the intention you're aiming for. I respect that about Silver Broomstick, and I think it takes the practice of witchcraft much more seriously than that illustration on the cover suggests. 

How I've found myself working with this book over the years is I'll turn to it as a jumping-off point each time a new aspect of witchcraft catches my interest. Candle magic keeps popping up in my life, and I'm not sure if it's something that's for me. I turn to the 4 pages devoted to candle magic in Silver Broomstick and I learn that they're closely associated with color magic (which I have to go elsewhere in the book to dive into), how to dress a candle, how to properly light and extinguish a candle (don't use matches because the sulphur interacts with your spells!), ideas for what to do with candle drippings, and different elements you can incorporate into working with candles. But I'm not sure what I can inscribe a candle with, or what specific rituals and spells I can use candles for. There's some fascinating information here and I feel prepared to explore further, but I don't think I could really start working with candles until I turned to something that had more space to delve into more of the particulars. Overall, Silver Broomstick is an incredible overview and a great reference, and is most suited for witches looking to forge their own path. Use it as a tool, but it's unlikely that you'll be able to use it alone. 

Level: Beginner to intermediate 

Accessibility: High - RavenWolf writes in a clear, friendly, personable way 

Usefulness: Moderate - there are plenty of practical tools and information, but having to connect so many of your own dots might pose a barrier

Entertainment: Moderate - there's some good storytelling in here, but it's much more of a textbook and guide than a pageturner