Jaya Saxena

Jess Zimmerman

Tap into your inner sorceress and channel the dark arts with this magical lifestyle guide for everything from powering up a stylish talisman to banishing terrible tinder dates.

How to Summon Success, Banish Drama, and Raise Hell with Your Coven

Basic Witches

Sara Poole

But the witch isn't kitsch. The modern witchy zeitgeist doesn't only glance backward into childhood; it looks forward to the future of powerful, defiant women. 

Moth

This book is a great resource for people just starting out in witchcraft. Unlike most of these 101 guides, this book focuses on a modern take of witchcraft and how it is connected to feminism. Though it focuses more on female readers and in turn spells, it's great for all genders and even has a section for male-presenting witches. It explains history of witches that aren't as well known, gives you great examples of fictional witches to look up to, spells that anyone can sit down and do, and even throws jokes in there when you're caught up on the reading just to throw you and make you laugh.

(Full Review On Blog)

Maggie Gordon

So, first things first, this is less of a spiritual look at witchcraft and more of a modern self-help book with witchcraft flavours. I know that probably pisses a lot of witches off. The book is sometimes flippant about what you need to believe in to be a witch, but, honestly, I thought that was great. This was a permission giving book. Anyone can be a witch. Being a witch can be many things. Witches are unruly women, so go from there and find your witchy self! I think this book is a gateway to deeper practices (and, unfortunately, silly instagram photos where witch is just a funky hashtag to add to a photo). It was a very positive read for someone who doesn't know anything about being a witch, but just feels called to the term. Sure, some of it was silly, but the writers even admit that. It's pretty shallow at times, but it's also filled with kindness, compassion and a desire to be as inclusive as possible. Lots of faults, but lots of benefits for those that need a boost in their life. Maybe this is their start on the path to being a witch?

Ley Stanton

I ended up skimming most of this. It started out nice enough, very empowering, but it got cliche and repetitive soon after. Most of the tips just sound really similar. Plus they contradict themselves every other sentence. I appreciate the sentiment but this just ended up not being for me.

juliett

Two feminists decide to use the term "Witch" and joke around with witchcraft (a practice thats still going on these days) to empower people -women mostly.
I mean the part where they want to help ypu to feel better with yourself and learn how to say no etc it's not the problem. But maybe do that without cultural appropiation? The fact that they aren't witches/wiccans/pagans nor practice witchcraft and decide to use the term witch and take doing spells as a silly little thing annoys me so much. If they are so open minded why do they joke about a practice that still so much people nowadays is into? This book is just harming to real witches. They do use a witchcraft basis by using glamour spells and candle-work but still they use it as a silly thing. They even encourage using tarot cards despite not believing in them? And there's a page on how to hex someone. All of this without protection of course. No hate (not too much at least) but they should have considered writing an empowering book without appropriating a culture. Think about it next time!!
Please keep in mind that I wrote this as a pagan witch that bought this book from the Occultism section of her local bookstore and wasn't expecting this joke of a book xx.

Lucía RG

Fiona Coffey

Okay, so I understand the negative reviews, but I also get the positive ones. This book is not about witchcraft. It’s not for people who actually practice witchcraft, and it says that in the first few pages. It’s more like a cute little compilation of self help affirmations and journaling exercises (kind of), but in the form or “spells”. It reminds me of something I would have found in a teen magazine when I was younger, except this book doesn’t seem to be marketed to teens... though it definitely seems a bit young for me, and I’m only 23. It doesn’t really know who it’s audience is. 

So on the one hand, I see how this book could be enjoyable to someone who has never looked into witchcraft before. There’s nothing wrong with affirmations and self help. But I also can’t help but feel just a little bit offended by the obvious trend-hopping onto the witchcraft train. Neither of the authors practice witchcraft and that’s primarily what made me so frustrated. If this book was written for people who aren’t necessarily looking to start practicing witchcraft, but still want to crack open that door, BY SOMEONE WHO WAS A WITCH it would make much more sense. I don’t want to call it appropriation, because that term shouldn’t be used lightly, but like... Sephora witchcraft kit much? The book doesn’t have to be witchcraft themed, and could do without the enormous generalizations. 

It also felt like the authors were trying too hard to be “super woke” ... but failing. At the beginning they say that witchcraft is for everyone and even mention non-binary people which I thought was cool, but then say that they are going to focus on “women”. Okay. But nothing in the book HAD to be focused on women specifically. Some of the ‘spells’ had to do with glamour magic and makeup, and by specifically aiming those sections at women, the authors alienated others by implying that makeup and glamour magic is inherently for women. They also included a small section about what glamour magic you can do if you are a more masculine person, which is awesome, but they wrote it specifically directed at men. Thus alienating other masc individuals that aren’t men. So uhhhh. That sucked. I think it’s awesome that the book encourages breaking gender roles in the form of women doing what they want to with their appearance regardless of whether it makes them look feminine or not. So why doesn’t it encourage men to shed their toxic masculinity and try out some more typically feminine things, instead of encouraging it by giving them their own separate section of stereotypically “manly” stuff. No thanks. 

Some of the puns irritated me to no end. “Smellomancy”?? Are you talking about aromatherapy?? 

There were a few sections that were genuinely interesting and included actual genuine information but most of it seemed to be made up or not applicable to actual life. Most of the “spells” are just meditations, journaling or drawing exercises and affirmations, and I can safely say that most of them felt completely made up off the top of the authors heads as though they were trying to replicate what they thought actual spells were like. Most of them didn’t have to be that complicated. 

If you are a beginner or someone who is genuinely interested in witchcraft I can think of so many books that would be much more helpful to you. Wiccapedia by Shawn Robbins is another popular culture style witchcraft book that has surface level information on a ton of different witchy topics. The Modern Guide to Witchcraft by Skye Alexander is also a really good intro. If you’re into self care, The Witch’s Book of Self Care by Arin Murphy-Hiscock. For short and simple spells try Everyday Witchcraft by Semra Haksever. Those are just a couple that would be better alternatives to this book. 

This review is super long and ranty so I’m going to end it here. This book is cute but if you’re genuinely interested in witchcraft in any way, look elsewhere.

A magical lifestyle guide for everything from powering up a stylish crystal to banishing terrible Tinder dates Want to feel terrifyingly beautiful? Wear the right color of eye shadow to project otherworldly glamour. Need to exorcise a toxic friendship? Repeat the proper incantation and make it disappear. Want to increase your energy? Whip up a tasty herbal “potion” to rev up your stamina. DIY projects, rituals, and spells—along with fun historical sidebars—summon the best trends of the modern witchy lifestyle and the time-trusted traditions of the hell-raising women of the past. With humor, heart, and a hip sensibility, Jaya Saxena and Jess Zimmerman dispense witchy wisdom for the curious, the cynical, and anyone who could use a magical boost. Selected Table of Contents: CHAPTER 1 - Self-Initiation: An Induction into Basic Witchery What We Mean by “Witchcraft” Our Favorite Pop Culture Witches CHAPTER 2 - Glamours: The Power to Change How You Look How to Clothe Yourself in Literal Darkness The Dark Magic of Unfeminine Haircuts A Spell for Self-Care CHAPTER 3 - Healing: The Power to Care for Yourself A Spell to Make Peace with Your Body Magical Exercise A Ritual for a Relaxing Netflix Binge CHAPTER 4 - Summoning: The Power to Care for Others (and Have Them Care for You) The Transformative Power of Vulnerability A Collaborative Ritual to Deepen Friendship CHAPTER 5 - Enchantment: The Power to Make Choices about Love and Sex Conjuring Your Perfect Mate The Magic Circle of Consent A Spell for Talking about Sex CHAPTER 6 - Banishment: The Power to Avoid What Brings You Down Expelling Social Toxicity The Different Types of Personal Demons A Spell to Counter Impostor Syndrome CHAPTER 7 - Divination: The Power to Decide Your Destiny A Spell to Name Your Heart’s Desire How to Read Tea Leaves

Brook

Very sweet book of witchery

This book was full of smart, and fun ways to introspect and dig into our lives. I’ll probably return to this book during hard times. The tone was fun and easy to handle, and the examples were helpful. Lots of this book is well-tread territory, but I’m glad for it. This would make a nice gift for young folks in your life especially.

Basic Witches How to Summon Success, Banish Drama, and Raise Hell with Your Coven

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