I just finished reading this book earlier this year, and thought I'd write a review on it. This is also going to help me determine how I want to review other texts going forward. So without further ado, let's get started.
TL;DR:
I highly recommend this book for both beginners and more experienced witches who are looking to expand their practices or gain additional resources. Brown takes a practical approach and breaks things down beautifully in a way that's easy to understand and follow. (Such as steps to creating a spell, steps to spellcasting, etc.)
The second half is spells that may take a different approach to what we're used to seeing in other books, which in and of itself is very useful.
What's Inside (Contents)
PART I: Witchcraft and Practical Magic
1. Understanding Witchcraft
2. Core Beliefs and Values
3. How to Tap into Your Powers
4. How to Practice Witchcraft
PART II: Spells (Begins on page 87)
5. Love
6. Health and Healing (in Yourself and Others)
7. Career
8. Friends and Family Matters
9. Spiritual Work
10. Protection
Glossary
Resources
References
Index
Summary
Part I: Witchcraft and Practical Magic spans 86 pages and includes a lot of information.
"Understanding Witchcraft" is your fairly standard introductory chapter, addressing questions such as, "What is Witchcraft?" and, "Are you a Witch?", before diving into a brief history of witchcraft.
"Core Beliefs and Values" is a high-level tour of the most common tenets of witchcraft among witches of all varieties, not just Wiccans.
"How to Tap into Your Powers" and "How to Practice Witchcraft" are more instructional than educational, but Brown includes a lot of education in those chapters nonetheless, including a handy breakdown of the structures of rituals and spells, sabbats, and some basic correspondences.
Part II: Spells is approximately 90 pages in length (some pages are just illustrations). Brown prefaces these pages with a few notes, including:
"Some of these spells may not align with the stereotype of spellcasting that you've seen in the media. They may seem too simple or they may seem too complicated. I implore you to come to these spells with an open mind..." (pg.89)
The spells that follow offer a variety of complexities, though most of them take less than half an hour to cast.
Provided Resources & References
Following the Spells section of the book is 3 pages of Glossary, 2 pages of Resources that appear to be reading recommendations, and 3 pages of References - titles cited or referenced throughout the book. Going over these materials, the book appears to have been written using carefully curated resources, which is very encouraging.
About the Author
From Amazon:
TONYA A. BROWN is a current resident of Florida, where she is the editor-in-chief of Witch Way Magazine as well as writer and host of the podcast The Witch Daily Show.* Tonya is a Lenormand reader, medium, and magical guide for other witches.
*Formerly The Daily Witch.
Her other titles include Evolution of a Witch: 150 Journal Prompts for Witches; (Witch Way's Book of) 100 Love Spells; a children's book titled Tutty Learns About Witches; and The Hectic Witch's Planner (currently only for 2022 and 2023).
I'm already a fan of both her magazine and podcast (which I started listening to last year), though I have yet to check out her other works. It's encouraging to see a witch-positive children's book in the lineup, though.
As for the podcast, Brown does briefly recommend Lilith as a goddess that could be followed in the "Badass Goddesses" episode on January 17, 2023. This is, of course, problematic, but I haven't listened to each episode since then to see if she has recanted that statement or revised her perspective on the subject.
My Overall Review
I really enjoyed reading this book. Though it was designed as an introduction to witchcraft, I learned several new things and gained resources I didn't have before. The breakdown of spell structure is especially appealing to me, as at the time of this writing, I've just started writing my own spells.
The language Brown uses is conversational and easy to follow, using accessible vocabulary and staying on track through each subject. I greatly appreciated this aspect because we've all read enough books that meander and tangent into unrelated thoughts and information. We don't see that with Brown; her writing stays on task and only "wanders" to provide necessary context.
Additionally, where she makes claims or presents facts, she always cites her sources in a way that isn't distracting. It was quite refreshing to see in an area of study where sources are often an afterthought.
Final Word: I will definitely be keeping this on my bookshelf and I look forward to seeing more from Brown in the future. I do sincerely hope she'll be more thoughtful on the subject of Lilith in her podcast going forward, as well.
Thank you for staying with me throughout this review. I hope it helps you to make an informed decision if you've been pondering this title.
Despite all of the controversy surrounding Open and Closed Practices, I think we can all agree that BIPOC shops and communities within our shared metaphysical world are grossly underappreciated and underrepresented.
That's why this post exists. I want to keep a running list of shops, foundations, and anything else that helps promote and add visibility to our often overlooked, ignored, and neglected community members.
This also serves a second purpose as a resource for in-person learning. No matter where you fall on the Open/Closed Practice debate, I believe everyone should take every opportunity they can to learn from the individuals who belong to those communities and traditions. This is the only way we can truly learn to respect one another and grow as both people and practitioners.
Do you own or know of a shop, foundation, or other resource where practitioners can support this cause? Send me a recommendation and I'll add it to the list!
DISCLAIMER: Right now, this post is going to be limited to BIPOC shops and support resources. I'm still figuring out the best way to do the same thing for Judaism, Hinduism, and other religions that are often appropriated. I'm not sure if I'll have multiple posts or one big one yet, but don't worry - I haven't forgotten you!
Other Sources
I'll be going through these sources and adding active shops to my lists for easy reference.
Black Tarot Readers, Psychics, And Astrologers
Black Owned Spiritual Supply Shops: Kemiade's Twitter thread.
American Shops
Big Liz Conjure - "We are the first solely Black, woman owned spiritual/metaphysical/occult storefront in Central Ohio. While our primary focus is Hoodoo and the needs of ATR practitioners, our goal is to have something for everyone’s occult and metaphysical practices. We are adding to our offerings weekly!"
All non-book sources are listed here with links where available. I'm always accepting recommendations, so if you have a suggestion, pop into my Ask Box and let me know!
Magazines & Publications
Smithsonian Magazine ("Witch" Search Results) - Features the topics and subject matters researched, studied and exhibited by the Smithsonian Institution—science, history, art, popular culture and innovation. This link goes to all search results containing "Witch" for easy reference.
Websites
Cornell University Witchcraft Collection - Contains over 3,000 titles documenting the history of the Inquisition and the persecution of witchcraft, primarily in Europe.
Museum of Witchcraft and Magic - Exploring British magical practice and making comparisons with other systems of belief, from ancient times to the present day, drawing upon cutting-edge scholarship along with the insights of magical practitioners.
Podcasts
Books & Broomsticks - "A podcast on all things witchcraft, books, folklore, history, the occult & magic. Hosted by Mad Hatter Plays & Chaotic Witch Aunt."
BS-Free Witchcraft - "A monthly witchcraft podcast, minus all of the usual BS. Trae, a practicing witch for over twenty years, talks about the history, practices, and current events of the modern Witchcraft movement without sugar coating any of it for you. It’s fun?"
Hex Positive - "A practical witchcraft podcast hosted by Bree NicGarran, author of Grovedaughter Witchery. Every month, join Bree for a discussion of secular witchcraft, with plenty of tips for witching on a budget, finding good resources, furthering your magical education, and keeping your common sense superpowers strong. We’ll also delve into the history of witches and witchcraft, and witches in folklore and literature, and how those ideas influence what it means to be a witch in the modern day."
The History of Witchcraft - "Witches didn't exist, and yet thousands of people were executed for the crime of witchcraft. Why? The belief in magic and witchcraft has existed in every recorded human culture; this podcast looks at how people explained the inexplicable, turned random acts of nature into conscious acts of mortal or supernatural beings, and how desperate communities took revenge against the suspected perpetrators."
The Witch Daily Show - "The Witch Daily Show (formerly The Daily Witch) goes over headlines, books, topics, witch-fails, and more daily! Start your day off with a little magic."
Witch Space - "Two academic witches discuss the history, development, & paradigms of modern-day witchcraft. Available every new and full moon."
Blogs & Tumblr Users
@archives-discord - The official Tumblr blog for the ARCHIVES Discord server.
Discord Servers
Note: These links will route to their respective Discord servers.
ARCHIVES - A server housing thousands of free resources for witchcraft, the occult, spirituality, religion, paganism, and more. You can choose to use the social features, the resource features, or both. NOTE: Unfortunately, the Archives shut down without a trace and is no longer available.
These are the books, articles, publications, etc; that I'm working through right now. I often go through several at a time depending on what I feel like reading on any given day, especially given that some texts are more difficult than others.
Currently Reading:
Thames & Hudson. A History of Witchcraft: Sorcerers, Heretics, & Pagans, 2nd Edition, 2007. Book.
Zakroff, Laura Tempest. Anatomy of a Witch: A Map to the Magical Body. Tantor Audio, 2021. Audiobook.
Chamberlain, Lisa & Dombrowski, Kiki. Magical Astrology for Witches. Chamberlain Publications, 2023. Book.
Miller, Jason. Consorting with Spirits. Weiser Books, 2022. Book.
Kelden. The Crooked Path. Llewellyn Publications, 2020. Book.
Freuler, Kate. Of Blood and Bones. Llewellyn Publications, 2020. Book.
Queue:
(In No Particular Order)
Dombrowski, Kiki. A Curious Future: A Handbook of Unusual Divination and Unique Oracular Techniques, 2nd Edition. Witch Way Publishing, 2021. Book.
Kirkbride, Yunan. Death Witchcraft, vol 1. Self-Published. Zine.
Kirkbride, Yunan. Death Witchcraft, vol 2. Self-Published. Zine.
Davies, Owen. The Oxford Illustrated History of Witchcraft and Magic. Oxford University Press, 2017. Book.
Rogers, A. S. Appropriation of the ‘Witch’ Stigma as White Women's Self-Empowerment. Scholar Commons, 2019. Doctoral dissertation. Retrieved from https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/etd/5395
Vaudoise, Mallorie. Honoring your Ancestors. Llewellen Publications, 2019. Book.
Pickover, Clifford. Death and the Afterlife: A Chronological Journey, from Cremation to Quantum Resurrection. Union Square & Co., 2015. Book.
This blog welcomes all LGBTQ+ members, races, cultures, spiritual paths, disabled individuals, and neurodivergent individuals. DNI if you're a TERF, SWERF, or Pedo/MAP.
I welcome those who seek to learn and improve their knowledge regarding any of the above topics in addition to those below, and highly encourage questions and civil discussions. If I don't know something, we'll find out together.
I will not accept hateful or abusive behavior of any kind, including gatekeeping, proselytizing, and cultural appropriation.
This post documents the study and resources of my journey into the occult, witchcraft, chaos, and so much more. This catalogue will be updated regularly as I gather more information on each subject and resource. I'll include links to anything and everything as I go, including my own posts and tags, and cite sources where I can.
Common Tags:
#ArchersArchive
#ArcherSpeaks
#ArcherAnswers
#Research Tips
Who Is Archer Sims?
I chose this name for myself rather specifically, as it reminds me of my goals regarding my research and practices. I'm a bigender witch living in Midwest America (ope) with a background in anthropology and some educational exposure to non-Christian religious studies.
Meet the Witch.
Here's My Story if you want to learn more about what specifically brought me here.
The Archive:
My Library
Currently Reading + Queue
Works I've Read
Other Sources
Recurring Festivals in America
BIPOC Metaphysical Shops & Support
My Tarot & Oracle Collection
Research Topics
Classic Occultism
History & Types of Witchcraft
History & Types of Paganism
Covens Past & Present
Famous Practitioners
Witches of Color
History of Queer Practitioners
Cultural Studies
Open & Closed Practices
Pantheons Around the World
Myths, Legends, & Lore
Chaos Magic
Word & Art Magics
History & Types of Divination
Shadow Work & Psychology
Astronomy & Astrology
Botany & Herbalism
Geology, Crystals, & Ethical Harvesting
Environmentalism & Conservation
A Grimoire of Sorts
Magickal Tools
Sabbats, Esbats, & Other Sacred Events
Common Magickal Correspondences
Spellwork, Sigils, & Ritualcraft
Wordwork
Divination & Scrying
Do you have resources or recommendations? Visit my Ask Box and shoot your shot! I'm open to learning about pretty much everything. Does something seem wrong? Politely let me know, and I'll look into it some more.
Even though I finished this one early in my witchcraft journey a few years ago, I have very strong opinions of it, so I decided to reread it and write a review featuring both impressions.
TL;DR:
I do not recommend this book for several reasons. The editing is poor, the content is generic at times and inaccurate at others, and the author is questionable at best.
What's Inside (Contents)
Letters
Introduction
Chaos Magic & Sigil Basics
Chaos Magic
Sigils
Care and Caution
Tools of the Trade
Glossary
Incantation Glossary
From Book of Shadows
From Moon Phase Rituals Made Easy
From Sabats and Esbats Made Easy
From Banishing, Binding, Cursing, and Hexing
From What kind of Witch are you?
From The Elements
From The Colors of Magic
From Sigils and Chaos Magic
Reminder
Finally
Prologue
[All words, word order, and spelling are exact matches to the book's Contents page.]
Summary
The first 30 pages of the book are meant to be educational and instructional, and include several lined pages for you to write your own incantations as you go.
Though there is a disclaimer at the beginning stating that the contents of the book are the author's personal thoughts and practices, there are no alternative methods mentioned at any point. Throughout the book, Fairchilde blends chaos magic with eclectic witchcraft as a presentation of her own practice, but pushes her beliefs about how to practice chaos magic from an eclectic witchcraft perspective, such as with the statement, "With all witchcraft practices, remember the most basic rule, 'do no harm, harm no one, no harm be done.'" (pg.9)
Additionally, the author makes a few historical claims about chaos magic through the book that have no citations, notes, or references to back them up. These include the claim about chaos magic that "if you delve into magical practices it goes farther back in time as does[sic] all Pagan and neo-Pagan practices." (pg.16)
The same is true of this earlier quote:
"Chaos magic is sometimes considered a newer magic, even more along the lines of new age and metaphysics, but has actually been around as long as people have practiced using the force of their will, and that is as long as mankind has existed." (pgs.3-4)
The remaining 60 pages are dedicated to the glossary and incantations sourced from the author's other titles...including this one, though the word order is different. This appears to be common in Fairchilde's books, as she adds a section for each new book to the incantation glossary, though it seems redundant.
Provided Resources & References
Fairchilde provides a Glossary and an Incantation Glossary filled with incantations from her other books. Nowhere in the book are there sources cited, further reading, or resources that don't come from the author's own catalog.
My Overall Review
Above everything else, if poor editing is an issue for you, this isn't the book for you and the rest of the review is moot. Typos abound, as do issues with basic grammar. These issues are frequent enough as to be incredibly distracting throughout the book. This is the risk you take with self-published books, but that's not an excuse to not edit your content. Generally, I try not to judge language usage because not everyone has the same educational opportunities, but it's my opinion that published works deserve to be edited seriously.
As for the rest, my first impression of the book years ago was this: This is the sort of book you might enjoy if you haven't done any other reading on the subject whatsoever.
After rereading the book, my impressions haven't changed much. If anything, I feel more concerned with the messages in the text.
Fairchilde defines chaos magic like so:
"Defining chaos, we come up with synonyms like disorder, disarray, anarchy, and even discord. So, chaos is an approach or a belief in the way a witch might approach her magic. Chaos Magic allows the practitioner to go further than the tried and true and apply their own methods to their magic." (pg.5)
This isn't a definition in any logical sense, and it's certainly not an accurate one when compared to the multitude of other texts available on the subject (including works from Peter Carroll, Phil Hine, Adam Blackthorne, and Andrieh Vitimus). However, this is presented not as an opinion, but as fact, despite being the most generic definition and one that ultimately applies to magic as a whole, which isn't set in stone or dictated by someone else's rules. (Unless perhaps you're in a coven with strict practices.)
The language of the book, which is simple so as to be accessible - a point in its favor - is problematic at times. For instance, "Chaos Magic usually falls in the black and gray categories because there are no rules, or ethics involved for the practitioner." (pg.5)
The problem here is that ethics aren't simply thrown away with the practice of chaos magic. That depends entirely on the practitioner, just as with any other form of witchcraft. Yes, you do make your own rules, but what those are is specific to each individual, placing responsibility squarely on their shoulders, and not on the type of magical practice. In short, chaos magic - and magic in general - isn't to blame for someone's poor choices and behavior.
About the Author
On a separate note, I find the author herself to be somewhat problematic. One of her newer titles is Poppets, Voodoo Dolls & Effigies. You all know by now that I have very strong feelings against cultural appropriation, and having a book written by a non-BIPOC author that specifically includes voodoo dolls leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Her Colors of Magic, another name for Black Magic, Gray Magic & White Magic, is also an issue for the fact that defining magic as "black" or "white" carries racist undertones that I'll dive into in another post, as that statement is an oversimplification of the issue.
Now, that said, I haven't read any of her other work, and in June of 2023, she released a book called The Big Book of Beginner’s Magic, in which all of her books are rewritten into individual chapters. She still references voodoo dolls and colors of magic, but I'm curious about the book as a whole and whether or not her chapter on chaos magic and sigils will be more up to date. I'd also love to see a bibliography or resources page for further reading that isn't all sourced from her own titles. I haven't decided if reading this collection will be a worthwhile endeavor, so I'll think on it and leave a review if I do.
Thank you for staying with me throughout this review. I hope it helps you to make an informed decision if you've been pondering this title.
All of the works I've read related to my studies are listed below by formatted category and in alphabetical order by author's last name. Some of these were read quite some time ago, but I'll be rereading them soon. I'll link to full book reviews as I share them.
Academic Articles & Papers:
Coming soon.
Books:
Basile, Lisa Marie. The Magical Writing Grimoire. Fair Winds Press, 2020.
Blackthorne, Adam. The Master Works of Chaos Magick. The Gallery of Magick, 2016. Full review in progress.
Brown, Karen McCarthy. Mama Lola: A Vodou Priestess in Brooklyn, Updated and Expanded Edition. University of California Press, 2001.
Brown, Tonya A. The Door to Witchcraft: A New Witch's Guide. Althea Press, 2019. Full review.
Evans-Pritchard, E.E., & Gillies, Eva. Witchcraft, Oracles, and Magic Among the Azande, Abridged Edition. Oxford University Press, 1976.
Greer, John Michael. The Occult Book: A Chronological Journey from Alchemy to Wicca. Union Square & Co., 2017.
Horne, Roger J.. Folk Witchcraft: A Guide to Lore, Land, & the Familiar Spirit for the Solitary Witch. Independently Published, 2019.
Horne, Roger J.. The Witch's Art of Incantation: Spoken Charms, Spells, & Curses in Folk Witchcraft. Independently Published, 2021.
K., Amber, & K., Azrael Arynn. How to Become a Witch. Llewellyn Publications, 2018.
Matlins, Stuart, & Magida, Arthur. How to Be a Perfect Stranger: The Essential Religious Etiquette Handbook. SkyLight Paths, 4th Edition, 2006.
Miller, Jason. Protection & Reversal Magick: A Witch's Defense Manual. Weiser Books, 2023. Full review in progress.
Nicholas, Chani. You Were Born for This: Astrology for Radical Self-Acceptance. Harper One, 2020. Full review in progress.
Pals, Daniel. Eight Theories of Religion. Oxford University Press, 2nd Edition, 2006.
RavenWolf, Silver. To Ride a Silver Broomstick. Llewellyn Publications, 2nd Edition, 2016.
Talboys, Graeme. Way of the Druid: Renaissance of a Celtic Religion and its Relevance. Moon Books, 2005.
Weisman, Richard. Witchcraft, Magic, and Religion in 17th-Century Massachusetts. University of Massachusetts Press, 1985.
Zakroff, Laura Tempest. Weave the Liminal: Living Modern Traditional Witchcraft. Llewellyn Publications, 2019.
Booklets & Pamphlets:
Native Hope. How to Address Native American Issues as a Non-Native: a Resource for Allies. Native Hope, date unknown. Available for free at https://www.nativehope.org/
Zines:
Anchor and Star. Witches, Pagans, and Cultural Appropriation: Considerations & Applications for Magical Practice. Self-Published, 2021.
Anchor and Star. Witches and Pagans From the Frame of Whiteness. Self-Published, 2021.
Kirkbride, Yunan. Practical Paganism: Tipes for pulling yourself out of a spiritual slump and forming a stable, consistent worship. Self-Published, 2018.
~~~
Have a suggestion for me to read? Let me know! I'm always looking for more resources.
This is my current list of recurring festivals in America for various traditions in the US. I'll try to keep them organized by what practice they focus on to the best of my ability.
I'm always looking for more, so don't hesitate to send information my way!
Witchcraft Focus
Festival of Witches - Mount Kisco, New York.
Festival of the Dead - Salem, MA. Hosts numerous events year-round.
CauldronFest - Spencer, TN.
HexFest - New Orleans, LA.
Pagan Focus
Work in Progress
Folk Magick Focus
Work in Progress
Indigenous Focus
Work in Progress
These categories are nowhere near all-encompassing, and I'll add to this list as I go. Suggestion for category names are also always accepted.
