The all new 50 Books Challenge!
Title: Witchery: Embracing the Witch Within by Juliet Diaz
Details: Copyright 2019, Hay House
Synopsis (By Way of Front Flap): "Everywhere, the witches are rising. Are you ready to answer the call and embrace your own inner witch?
In this book, third generation Witch Juliet Diaz guides you on a journey to connect with the Magick within you. She explains how to cast off what doesn't serve you, unleash your authentic self, and become an embodiment of your truth. You'll also learn the skills and techniques you need to build your own Magickal craft.
Within these enchanted pages you'll discover how to:
· connect with the power of your inner witch
· create spells, potions, and rituals for love, protection, healing, manifestation and more
· amplify your energy by working with a Book of Shadows
· create an altar and decorate it according to the seasons
· work with the Moon and the Seasons of the Witch
· connect with your ancestors to receive their wisdom
Filled with Magick, inspiration, and love, Witchery is your guide and companion on a wickedly delicious journey to true self-empowerment."
Why I Wanted to Read It: You might recall last year I went on a bit of a Witch thing, or rather, after reading a beautifully written, powerful memoir, I reconnected with my passion for Witchcraft. I hadn't read a "new" Witch book (meaning, written within at least the last five years of reading it) in a long time, until last year. That's an awfully long time with a lot of books published to miss! So if you look through last year's challenge, you'll find fiction and non and plenty of Witches and you're going to see it this year, too. This was a more remarked-upon book.
How I Liked It: What do you do when you've read a zillion 101 books about a subject (and you're far past the 101 level), but you haven't read a new 101 book in long awhile? Does it matter? At all?
But first!
This book is a primer into the author's specific practice of Witchcraft. She gives spells, meditations, visualizations, and various instruction into building a practice. This is aimed generally assuming you're picking up a Witch book for the first time and also tries to dispel some misconceptions about Witches and Witchcraft.
Something I feel I now need to address thanks to books like The Witch's Guide to Manifestation. Is the author using "witch" to mean a term for general magic-maker (really, seriously: say "sorcerer" or something else, it's SO much less confusing), or are they referencing the specific spiritual/religious Pagan practice from where the term "Witch" originally derives? This author uses a capital W for Witches and Witches (as I do) so that means the latter, right? Well....
Can I believe what I read about Witchcraft?
Many books and articles about Witchcraft are based on personal opinion. For example, a lot of material is written by followers of Wicca and its content is influenced by the religion. The same goes for other paths, but reading an author's biography is usually a good indicator of their beliefs. Don't be discouraged if at first you don't connect to anything you read. Be patient, and keep studying and exploring.
Can I continue with my religion?
Most of the thousands of students in my November Sage Herbarium - A Witch Healers' School, follow a religion or have done in the past. Among others I have Catholic Witches, Jewish Witches, and Witches from voodoo religion. It's okay to have a religion and practice Witchcraft at the same time, so try not to worry what others think - just do what feels right for you as long as you're not causing harm to anyone or anything. (pg 16)
That is, uh, confusing at best. Number one, several branches of those faiths downright ban anything to do with the occult. Number two, Witchcraft can be a religion in and of itself and you should mention that point even if you are using the term to mean "general magic-maker".
So uhhhh, I guess that means despite the capital W, they do mean witch as "general magic-maker", right?
Incidentally, Wicca is pretty flexible and very DIY by its nature. If you don't like something, leave it out or alter it. If you like something and want to bring it in, you try to do so in a non-appropriative way. It's a pretty diverse lot.
Also, just to reiterate an important point! Witchcraft is ABSOLUTELY a religion to many, including me! If this author wants to frame the definition of witchcraft as "generic magic-maker" and exclude the fact it's a religion, that's their choice personally but irresponsible in a book for beginners not to specify what she means or to specify that there's more than one definition, particularly when she's using the capital W.
But wait a second. The author refers to our mother meaning the earth. And she has a whole chapter titled "Seasons of the Witch" which detail standard Pagan/Witch sabbats and their common themes, including referencing the God and Goddess. So as to whether this author is using witch-as-generic-magic-maker or Witch-as-spiritual/religious-Pagan practice the answer is... both? Which is terribly confusing, particularly for a newcomer, I'd imagine.
Certainly, you can take elements of the religion and traditions in which you were raised or of your heritage and respectfully combine them. I know Witches that still honor elements of the Judaism or Christianity in which they were raised. I know a Witch who was raised Muslim who still eats Halal. Perhaps that's what the author means as well?
Some of my ancestors were Catholic Witches, so on my altar I have an antique Bible, a rosary, and images of saints they believed in. Other Witches in my family practiced Santeria, Hoodoo, and Shamanism. Meanwhile, I'm Cuban with African, Iberian, and Native American roots so my ancestor altar is spiritually very colorful and honors my forebears in many different ways. (pg 129)
But okay, there's some confusion from the author as to what a Witch/witch is. But how about the book as a whole?
Unfortunately, the author makes the common 101 mistake of laying spells on the reader BEFORE any kind of ground work. To her credit, she does include some ground work, but learning to meditate, visualize, work with divination, ground/center/shield, and raise energy among other things, come BEFORE any type of spell work. The author apparently has a spell in this book using the book which because mine is a borrowed copy, I did not try to activate, but even if the spell is supposed to help you enjoy the book, it still doesn't belong before any prep work.
Additionally, too many of the spells require ingredients that would probably be difficult and/or expensive to procure, and while kitchen Witchery is absolutely a thing, spells are not (solely) recipes, and I feel framing them that way (particularly without the prep work) isn't terribly helpful to beginners (if you've got a half a cup of sea salt but can't focus on your intent properly, you're neglecting the most important ingredient!). Also, there's that bane of many an occult book reviewer, the arbitrary correspondence table of herbs, stones (I don't say "crystals" and mostly I'll say rocks), and colors. I realize, given the space, there's no way to go into detail about the folklore of each and every one, but you could at least mention that fact (that that it corresponds with various folklore) and include reference book suggestions that do go into detail on that level (or at least more detail).
There's also a few environmental and safety concerns (you should NEVER just pour anything into a body of water! Or just inhale the smoke of anything!) that raised my eyebrows, but the author to her credit does suggest you test some things on a small patch of your skin before actually using them, so she's not completely throwing safety to the winds.
There's also a few other troubling passages that I felt could use clarification:
What is the difference between Black Magick and White Magick?
Magick and Witchcraft aren't black or white, good or bad. They just ARE. What you do with this power is up to you. Yes, there are awful people out there using Magick to harm others, and involvement with these negative energies lowers your frequency, allowing ill-willed spirits into your life. Use your intuition; if someone or something feels wrong, don't engage -- unfriend. Always protect yourself by staying away from negative people or situations; you can also carry protective herbs, crystals, and gems.(pg 18)
I feel it's incredibly important that we address that "black" (meaning bad) and "white" (meaning good) are racist concepts from the start, particularly for something that relies on your perceptions the way this does. There's toxic/negative magic, and positive/beneficial magic. Terms like "black magic" and "white magic" and "white witches" (meaning those who only practice beneficial magic) should be removed from our speech.
I'm hopeful for the day when we can peacefully co-exist and all that we see is the soul of everything and everyone-- not race, color, gender, shape, religion, or other sacred practice. (pg 228)
Or conversely, you could hope that we see each other's differences as a part of the beautiful richness of life rather than a source for discrimination/bigotry/fear/prejudice. You can see people's differences and even celebrate them without not seeing them at all. My marginalizations aren't all of me, but they are a part of me and it's not the marginalizations that caused problems, it's the bigoted system in which I exist.
I get that this could simply be a matter of semantics, but this is the sort of thing that gets misused by bigots like how white supremacists use Martin Luther King Jr's vision of a day when his children would be judged not by the color of their (Black) skin, but by the content of their character as an excuse for colorblind racism and/or to ban any education about race (something Florida Governor Ron deSantis literally did recently).
Something the author gets right is cultural misappropriation, and this is one topic I'm happy to see in new 101 books:
Among the issues that affect the modern Witch is that of cultural appropriation-- when a dominant culture copies traditions of a minority culture. This has become hugely important to the Witch community, where truth and integrity are everything. With so much false information about what it means to be a Witch, many people are using elements of others cultures without even realizing it.
For instance, using herbal smoke or incense to cleanse is an ancient tradition that occurs in many cultures, including the Witch community. I prefer to use the term 'cleansing' rather than 'smudging' as the latter is a practice specific to Native American culture. I would also suggest avoiding the use of white sage for cleansing, as I understand it to be currently endangered, but other types of sage work equally well, as do cedar, juniper, and rosemary, or you can use resins, such as frankincense or copal.
Other examples of practice and expressions that in my opinion should not be used outside their traditional cultures include the Native American 'spirit animal'; instead I suggest you refer to a 'spirit guide.' Additionally, instead of 'chakras' use 'energy points', and leave 'mantra' for Hindus and instead use 'chant'. (pgs 227 and 228)
While Hindus (like any other religion full of millions and millions of people around the world!) have varying opinions on the use of "chakras" by non-Hindus (and Buddhists and Jains use "mantra" as well), it costs you literally nothing to refer to them as I do as "energy centers" or as the author suggests, "energy points." Same goes for "mantra" although depending on the situation, it could be "affirmation" as well. White sage may or may not be endangered (I found conflicting information) but with so many protection and clarifying herbs, why not err on the side of caution?
Where things take a bit of a turn is the author's next paragraph:
There are so many examples that I suggest you do your own research and ask yourself, Am I doing this because it's a trend, or is it out of genuine interest? There is so much information about this subject, so dive in and learn how to avoid cultural appropriation. Even when writing this book I avoided using certain words used only by practicing Witches, and chose alternatives instead. It all comes down to respect for other cultures and thinking about what's okay and what's not. Everyone has a choice. I hope you choose to be mindful and respectful of others' feelings. (pg 228)
All that's fine, save for a key part: "Even when writing this book I avoided using certain words used only by practicing Witches, and chose alternatives instead."
So.... for whom, exactly, is this book? Unfortunately even when she's getting it right, the author's contradictions rear their heads.
Will I need to worship the Devil?
Religions, the media, and the arts have often shown Witches as evil and dabbling in so-called Black Magick, misrepresenting Witches by showing them worshiping something demonic. But worshiping the Devil or Demons doesn't make you a Witch; what you worship or believe in is up to you. Worshipping a specific deity or Satan is not a 'Witch thing,' it's the choice of each individual. (pgs 18 and 19)
Satan is primarily a concept in Abrahamic religions. I feel it's also negligent to point out that throughout Christianity alone, the church deliberately crafted Satan to look like various old Pagan Gods as a form of propaganda. The Horned God of the Witches is not Satan, He's a pre-Christian woodland Deity.
So okay, we've handled spellcraft and prep, cultural misappropriation, and struggled with what Witch/witch is. Another factor I feel could badly stand to be updated in Witch 101 book is Queer issues.
Aside from the fact there's an unfortunate strand of TERFs (that's trans exclusionary radical "feminists"-- meaning transphobes that are using feminist cant with their bigotry) like Z Budapest, a lot of old Witch/occult books, like a lot of, well, anything, needs an upgrade with its concept of gender. In 2019, you didn't need to be told that trans and nonbinary people exist, and that pretending heterosexuality is the only sexuality is wrong.
The author doesn't touch much, if at all on Queer issues (and yes, if you're het/cis, you can! Call out your fellow het/cis people with information you got from Queer sources!), but she does use menstrual blood in more than one spell ingredient with the seeming understanding that you're going to have it on hand. I don't necessarily have a problem with this (given how wrongly vilified menstruation was and is), but I feel it should be done very carefully so we're not excluding anyone. Everyone bleeds, everyone has saliva, everyone has hair and nail clippings; if you need body parts to personalize a spell (which is the use of menstrual blood in the author's spells), there's a more universal way to go about it. She also has a note for a spell that includes a bath that "if you get your period, don't worry, this will actually amplify the Magick" which is probably reassuring if that's a concern, but to those who don't menstruate, either ever or anymore, where does that leave them?
Also, this bit about Beltane, the late summer sabbat:
Beltane is a passionate, sexual day that celebrates the union of the god and goddess. (pg 105)
That is absolutely not the only or even the main theme of Beltane in most traditions that celebrate it. Love and sex are themes, yes, but at least as far back as 1999's Circle Round (one of legendary Witch Starhawk's co-authored books that I highly recommend), Beltane is for "all forms of love", including non-sexual love of course, but also explicitly Queer love. I understand how people wouldn't see how framing it this way excludes Queer people, but it does and so you shouldn't. Also, this is a HUGE day for fae and spirit activity!
I also almost didn't mention this, but the author when offering spells for psychic activity, has a spell for psychometry (getting psychic visions from objects) where in one of the questions you should ask is whether the object's owner is "male or female". Eh, it's minor, but still easily fixable. Given that the object in question is supposed to be loaned from someone who has the answers to all those questions, it's easy enough to say "What is the gender of the person?" Again, this book was written in 2019.
Lastly, I want to make a note about narrative voice. I've talked before about the importance of narrative voice in a memoir. This isn't a memoir, but something I've noticed about self-help books in general and these sorts of books in particular is that the author takes some time to develop a relationship with you the reader. We hear stories about the author and how they came to learn what they did and be as they are. Marie Kondo, unarguably a genius and visionary, takes pains in her books to come across as relatable, but honest. She has a genuine love of and passion for organizing and tidying. But she says her laziness (she likes to tidy once and be done) is also a factor and it's a sweet addition that makes her books even better.
So where is this author's narrative voice? Well, that's tricky. In these sorts of books, you tend to want an expert, although I've always appreciated when authors relate their mistakes and stumbles, particularly when it's a book for beginners (and they can impart lessons with their own mistakes!). This author, well....
I myself don't write words to go with my spells as I've always been able to cast them by speaking only with my energy. This requires extreme focus and you need to be in full control of the emotions, feelings, and energies within and surrounding you. Even so, I always write down my spells in my Witch's Journal, so I have a record of the process even if it doesn't involve any words. (pg 211)
This is in a section about writing down your spells. So... I guess you could say she's at least emphasizing the importance of writing down your spells? If even she who naturally has always had extreme focus and full control writes them down, what's your excuse? But still, that probably would've put me off as a beginner.
Another way to make a difference is to take part in protests. I'm a big activist and have seen what works and what doesn't. (pg 229)
Pretty sure you could just say "I have a solid history in activism".
While I have a lot of valid complaints with this book, that isn't to say there's only complaints, certainly. The book has a number of useful and interesting-looking rituals and spells and suggestions, and while I wouldn't recommend it to the beginners for which it's clearly written, it's still an interesting read.
Old or new beginners books on a subject in which you are not a beginner are always worth your time. Not only is new information and new perspectives always being discovered, but you can see how much has changed, and also how much hasn't.
Notable:
You need to hydrate and relax after a release like this so drink some water and take time out. Also avoid using any technology. (pg 26)
Just a linguistic pet peeve, but technically eye-glasses, medication, and printed books are all forms of technology. I get what I assume she means (don't just open up your phone and start scrolling social media) but maybe making that clear, especially since there are other forms of distraction (idly chatting with a roommate, partner, or family member).
Samhain is the best known of the Seasons of the Witch as it falls on Halloween, when even muggles come out and play on the Magickal side. (pg 97)
Even before JK Rowling's unfortunate turn to monetarily and vocally supporting hate groups, I was not overly fond of this being used in occult spaces, I must say.
The methods in the follow [sic] pages will surely get you feeling like you belong in the cast of Practical Magic! (pg 199)
That's on a chapter about psychic enhancement.
Can I please ask people to read the book don't just watch the movie?
Final Grade: C+
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