Review of True Magick: A Beginner’s Guide, by Amber K
Note: I read the more recent edition of this book, the revised and expanded version. Now here is a wonderful, thorough introduction to magick. I've read many, many books about Wicca and magick, many 'for beginners' and 'introductions.' And many of them have been good, but none of reached this level of quality. Amber K focuses on the essentials that aren't as romantic or appealing to novices and drives those points home in a clear and caring style. She covers the fun stuff, like the tools and styles of magick and spells, but always in a manner that brings it back to the individual. Magick IS individual, personal. Every person will have unique skills, interests, manifestations, and experiences. There is no one exact way to do it. Amber K gently reminds readers, over and over, of that. Where she does get into should and must, it's not about how to place tools and call quarters, its about the work and the ethics of magick. She's not pulling punches here, giving leeway or quick fixes. She firmly insists that becoming an adept takes time and effort, years of study, practice and self-examination. The path of the magickal adept is not for everyone, and too often these days I see the popularization of this work making it out to be...universal and simple. It's refreshing to read a book that takes the more unpopular stance and warning -- you don't become a Witch overnight. You're not born a Witch. You can become one, if you're willing to do the work. True Magick gives you the tools to begin the work, with many practical exercises and huge amounts of wisdom. I particularly liked the Elemental Star Chart and the Magickal Style Aptitude Test, two tools that are illuminating and super helpful at any stage of study. I'll be going back to those again and again. Typically beginner's guides don't talk about the differences between theurgy and thaumaturgy, what they are and what kind of work falls where and why you might choose to focus on one or the other. I think that's important information for novices. It helps build the mental framework for the ethics of magickal work, which is so, so central. True Magick does not gloss over ethics, another huge point in its favor. There's an entire section exploring different scenarios and the ethics of using magick in them. Kudos! Highly recommended.